Life After (Insert Career)
A change in life is coming. At least, that’s what social media is telling me—and you know that random posters on the internet are never wrong. I hope things don’t change too much, because I’m starting a new knitting class on Tuesday night and am very excited about it.
So let’s talk about change. When you’re young, change seems easy—new wardrobe, new friends, new experiences. How often did you change your hairstyle when you were in your teenage years and 20s? But as you get older, you find comfort in the familiar. That great pair of shoes that you hope lasts forever. That comfortable hoodie that is like a second skin. And you know how to style your hair with the current ‘do. Why change it up?
It’s the same when it comes to your career. You’ve spent years—decades—honing your talents to become an expert. You’ve seen trends come and go, leveraging your institutional and industry knowledge to navigate the changing tides. Work becomes comfortable. It should be! In one year, you’ve committed around 184,000 minutes to your profession. Multiply that by three decades and you’ve earned your coziness.
But life, at times, isn’t cozy. Progress shakes things up. Mergers, acquisitions, customer expectations, new technologies, and other factors mean a shifting terrain. For some, it gets muddy but navigable. For others, it’s an earthquake, forever changing the industry’s landscape.
Television is experiencing a significant change. Per industry finance experts Entertainment Partners, the sector is suffering:
In their Q2 2024 Global Production Report, ProdPro found that film and television production levels declined globally by 20%, while the U.S. saw a sharper 40% decline from pre-strike levels. According to the report, Hollywood studios spent $11.3 billion on productions in the second quarter of 2024, a 20% drop from the same period in 2022. The Greater Los Angeles Area alone experienced a 36.4% decrease in shoot days compared to its five-year average, as reported by FilmLA, underscoring the widespread impact of production slowdowns across key sectors.
Some studies show even higher numbers in the U.K. and elsewhere.
I’ve discussed the reasons behind this drop before. The situation is complicated and likely to be a long-term reality. Debating the causes may be all good and fine, but it is little comfort to those on the ground experiencing the unemployment firsthand.
Change is here, and it is real.
I am Gen X. I’ve been working since the early ’90s and in my current career for over 25 years. I am comfortable! Television has been a stressful but familiar relationship for most of my adult life. And now—it’s as reliable as the Washington Nationals being good.
You do a quick Google search on “how hard is a career change when you're in your 50s” and the results say “it’s not impossible” and “while it comes with challenges.” An AI overview says:
“A career change in your 50s is possible and can be rewarding, but it requires a strategic and purposeful approach to navigate potential challenges like ageism, financial concerns, and a steep learning curve.”
Cue George-Michael Bluth meme.
What is life after my career? Can I step out of my comfort zone—especially when that zone is slowly disappearing?
Yup. There is life after, and one that is even more enjoyable than before.
I recently spoke at the Women in Government Relations 2025 Annual Conference, here in my beautiful and peaceful hometown of Washington, DC. I presented my class How To Sell Yourself Like a TV Show, a way to look at your skills and talents to find what your personal brand is.
The audience was terrific. They were engaged, understood how to change their individual perspective, and laughed at my jokes (always a plus). But what really hit home for me was how much I enjoyed it. I was mentoring some awesomely talented women and reaffirming that they were a powerful force.
We’re more than our roles and industries. We’re more than a title we’ve had. We are purposeful and daring. We are seasoned—not like an old grizzled mountain man, but like the best Puerto Rican pique you’ve ever had. AI can’t replace us because only we know the secret ingredients that make companies so successful.
For those facing a career change or contemplating a professional leap: find what brings you joy and pays the bills. ’Cause at a minimum, you gotta pay the rent. Learn. Indulge in your curiosity. Do what you can to realize that the pivot you will—or have to—make might be freeing.
There is life after, and revel in what the new journey may bring.
