John Tarnoff is Marc’s guest in this episode. John is a reinvention career coach, speaker and author who helps his fellow baby boomers transition to meaningful and sustainable careers beyond traditional retirement. Fired 39% of the time in his colorful career as a Los Angeles-based film producer, studio executive, and tech entrepreneur, he currently co-runs a graduate management program for a top university. In 2012, he developed the Boomer Reinvention Coaching Program, to help his generation stay active, engaged, relevant, and solvent. He is the author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50.
Marc and John discuss the twists in John’s career, before he pivoted to career coach and author. They share experiences and give advice to Baby Boomers looking to prepare for or to find a job for the second half of life. Listen in for an enthusiastic boost!
Key Takeaways:
[1:49] People ask John why he wrote this book! John is a guy who’s been fired a lot. He came late to the game, as part of a significant reinvention that happened the year he lost a business, at age 50.
[2:46] A former film studio production executive, he founded a tech company that failed when the bubble burst in 2001. He didn’t want to go back to the studios, and had no idea what to do. He felt there was something out there; he would have to figure out what! He went back to school for a psychology degree, to find tools for his next career.
[4:02] He went back to the industry in a different capacity, at Dreamworks Animation, with a focus on people. That led to his reinvention practice. He knew he couldn’t afford to retire, and that he was not alone. The economy was not going to come back. John wanted to help his generation lift themselves up by their bootstraps.
[6:17] Going back to school to figure out who you are is a job skill that is new in this generation. Mindfulness training and personal growth are looked at as business tools. In a fast-paced world, we need to be lifelong learners.
[8:43] The primary goal of the book is empowerment. John wants his readers to know that this is something they can do. Reinvention is within your reach. There are tools you can use. John provides steps and strategies, with a package of options to use.
[11:46] John turned the tables on a client by asking if they were applying their advice for their customers to themselves. Apply the principles you use in your business, on yourself. Your new career is likely unknown to you, because you’re not thinking of how to port your abilities into a new career. Expand your reach horizontally.
[16:15] How long did it take Marc to get past the panic of not having a paycheck? It’s scary when you realize you are cut off from a paycheck, and you think you will never work again. “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” — Winston Churchill.
[17:29] There’s no time like today to start going, especially if you are still employed. Now is the time to start thinking about this eventual pivot, this reinvention, to that next second act career. Few have enough to retire.
[18:02] Episode 3, Joel Dobbs; Ep. 7, Mike O’Krent; and Ep. 11, Vicki McCullough are interviews with people who have successfully pivoted. Each one started with an idea, but didn’t proceed, then got an extra push from a second event, and finally, found that it turned out differently than they planned, so they had to adapt to the flow.
[19:27] John presents a five-part methodology in the book. These steps help you create the future by reconciling the past, and putting it to rest to go forward. The paradigm shift is that the job is already inside you. John walks through the steps. The steps involve introspection, writing, and external input from others. This job will be your last big shot.
[25:32] It’s all about the network. It’s really all about developing relationships with people. Online, LinkedIn are great ways to do this, when added to your ‘in real life’ relationships, where you meet people. 85% of jobs are filled through referrals.
[26:52] This is achievable. Start now. There is so much support out there for you, if you are thinking about changing your career around. Be proud of who you are and how old you are. Play down the age bias. Be proud of your experience, but be humble and open to new ways of doing things, to becoming part of a multi-generation job force.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Contact Marc, and ask questions at: Careerpivot.com/contact-me
Website: JohnTarnoff.com
Website: Boomer Reinvention
Twitter: @JohnTarnoff
Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50, by John Tarnoff
For other episodes in the Pivot Interviews Series, listen to Episode 3, Episode 7, and Episode 11.
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