Passionate Purpose: Recent Episodes
Greg Gerber
Passionate Purpose is a podcast devoted to helping men and women over the age of 50 to enjoy purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about.
We interview people who have done incredible things after crossing the 50-year mark. It may be a business, a hobby or mission, but either way they're finding fulfillment while impacting other lives.
The baby boomer generation has had tremendous impact on the world their entire lives. It’s sad to think that influence is being reduced because people in that generation are not investing their skills and knowledge into helping others.
Prior to the accident, Jason was working 70 to 80 hours per week. After the brush with death, he has reprioritized his life so he can be more involved and present in the lives of people he loves.
Becoming an author was a new direction for Amy’s life, but her life changed profoundly after she started sending handwritten, personalized letters of encouragement to people, especially her 580 Facebook friends.
After helping his daughter overcome a 30-year addiction, Robert wrote a book explaining what keeps addicts addicted, and why parents should never give up hope.
Jeffrey Barnes teaches people about the wisdom displayed by Walt Disney. He and his wife, Lindsey, who is 38 years younger than he is, also teach people how to make an age-gap marriage work.
Rather than setting up tours visiting 10 countries in 10 days, Mary prefers to offer immersive experiences to a few areas so travelers truly enjoy the culture of those places.
After a boyfriend criticized her writing, Wendy threw away everything she wrote, but a smoldering wick remained. Years later, a pastor admonished Wendy by telling her to never throw away a gift God had given to her.
Tepe encourages others to try motorcycling because she said wind therapy is great for the soul. Just riding in the open has a peaceful and calming effect.
As she gets older, Michelle is not afraid to try new things – even if they are way out of her comfort zone – like writing a book and running a campground.
Laura practices what she calls a simple, gentle version of yoga that is much slower in motion and ideally suited to help people over 50 to remain more flexible as they get older.
Gail's book conveys the message that if she can overcome the curveballs life threw at her, so can anyone else. She also addressed the need to live with passion and purpose.
Joel suggests seasoned citizens can leave a financial legacy for their children and grandchildren that is more about advice than actual gifts of money.
Pam doesn’t make any money from her website, podcast or Facebook group. It is truly a passion of love in wanting to help strengthen and encourage younger women.
DC wanted to be a writer back in elementary school. Now in her 60s, she decided it was time to pursue the lifelong dream of becoming a mystery writer.
Sometimes the buildings Colleen creates are models of dream homes clients would love to own, or they are recreations of places they lived in the past. She also helps graduate students complete their degrees when life interfered with their plans.
Angelia knew she didn't need someone else's approval to have value in herself. Nor did she need to scale back her ambitions just because it meant other people were uncomfortable with her using her God-given talent.
Changing careers invigorated her by instilling a renewed sense of purpose in her life. The more Gwen involved herself with that new purpose, the more passionate she became.
Jacquelyn And Jerry Clement came up with the business idea after realizing they both love to create, and their clients often teach things by publishing books, and they like to inspire people with inspirational messages.
Of all the lessons Linda learned in uncovering her family history, the need for sharing these type of stories is essential.
Her brother's transformation prompted Ada to change lives by sharing what she knew about natural health and healing with others. She started by teaching people how to prepare healthy meals using what she calls “living foods.”
Michele’s story proves that when God gives people an assignment, he doesn’t toss them into the deep end by themselves. He orchestrates funding and people to ensure that the assignment can be carried out.
Although he has published fiction and non-fiction books, it is the creative aspect of writing fictional stories that really motivates him to write. Now 77 years old, Marty took up street photography when he was in his 50s, which involves shooting unposed candid photos of people.
As she searched for answers, it seemed the resources Nicole needed were not available to her. Thank goodness she kept copious notes.
Mike talks about his varied life, which included time serving in the South Africa special forces, as a Baptist minister, a crisis counselor and life coach. He also describes his popular Facebook group, “Uplifting, Inspiring, Informative and Funny Quotes for Everybody.”
When Dave turned 50, he started shifting into coaching. He saw it as a way to hone his own skills to help others uncover things within them or to pursue things they felt were out of their reach.
When it came time to retire, Jill rewired instead and became a multi-talented storyteller, author and entertainer. She was also crowed Miss Texas Senior America.
Jon's organization, Life Celebration Institute, helps men and women in the United States and Canada become certified to officiate rites of passage, such as weddings, funerals and new child celebrations.
Shey knew she wanted to be closer to God, but didn’t know how to begin that relationship.Shey started searching for answers, and stumbled on Season One of The Chosen a short time later. When she watched Episode Seven in Season One, Shey was convicted she needed to give her life to Jesus.
Although the book talks about his struggle to overcome cancer, Paul said it’s more of a love story about a father’s commitment to his daughter and the incredible bond they share.
Childhood trauma can come in many forms. Danielle said it is deeply personal and the silent screams can only be heard by the person held captive.
Getting good sleep solves a variety of other health issues, such as blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. Sleep also improves memory and brain function.
Wyatt is a 68-year-old man from Pennsylvania who fell in love with music six decades earlier, but finally found his voice after turning 50.
Michael has talked with men in their 70s who admit to never having heard from their fathers that they were loved, valued or appreciated. To overcome that sense of rejection, fatherless people often spend their entire lifetime seeking approval from others.
The good news is that with proper attention now, the likelihood of experiencing dementia can be reduced by as much as 50%. Two major studies have confirmed that statistic in recent years.
Angie's biggest contribution has been in starting what she calls a ministry of presence to walk with people who are experiencing grief. Her book describes things that are helpful and not-so-helpful when ministering to grieving people.
Pat and some of his coworkers would go backpacking every year, which gave him an opportunity to invest extended time outdoors where he really came to appreciate God as a creator.
Jeff said participating in just one medical mission is like doing 1,000 good deeds for people who often have no access to even basic medical care, let alone life-saving and life-changing procedures.
Beverly knows how important language is not only understanding other people, but for fitting into society as well. She has devoted her life to teaching adults and kids to speak different languages.
Joseph feels called to ministry in Kenya, so he is working to develop income streams that would help finance his mission and support his family.
Without that hope, people can fall into addictions or depression when they try to numb the pain of feeling there is no hope for a better life.
Joan Turley's life changed when she started working in the salon and spa industry. Now she is on a mission to help people feel as good on the inside as they look on the out.
Yet, for nine years after becoming a Christian, Dawn did not have peace. She was still burdened by her past and controlled by fear to the point anxiety ruled her heart. But, she kept doing the next right thing. Eventually, Dawn discovered the peace she was searching to find.
With family often scattered far and wide, Ruth shows how to maintain thriving relationships with grandchildren even from a distance.
What I liked most about Richard’s story was that he was pursuing his dreams of travel and adventure now, while he was still young enough to enjoy the experiences. In fact, he's still adding items to his adventure list.
What I admire most about Jeff’s story is that he is still setting goals in his 70s that motivate him to do something daily to reach that goal. Today, Jeff wants to help people identify and pursue their purpose, regardless of their age. So, he helped form the Institute of Purpose to show people how their lives can have purpose and meaning by simply focusing on ways to help others.
Troy admitted his faith could be much stronger and far more involved than it was. He still attended church and led marriage classes with his wife, but it seemed to Troy that he was just going through the motions of his faith. He was not engaged with God during his quiet time, nor communicating with him throughout the day. So, Troy decided to go all-in and become fully engaged.
As Allen approached his 50th birthday, he started experiencing signs of aging, which included aches and pains as well as an overall lack of energy. Allen forgot what it felt like to feel good. He knew he needed to lose weight, and he watched some friends shed pounds rather quickly on the Optavia program.
After COVID created extraordinary challenges for teachers, Mary decided to leave the classroom and start her own communications business. It was the fulfillment of a dream she harbored for years.
When Laura started blogging about losing their daughter, she and Dave realized they had been called into full-time ministry to give hope to grieving parents.
Brenda’s approach to self-publishing is that it opens the door for anyone to write and produce a book. However, there remains a right way to do so in order for self-published authors to ensure their books can stand next to any traditionally-published books in bookstores without readers noticing a difference.
Many men are haunted by discouragement, loneliness and depression; however, Mike said the antidote is to step out and be productive by actively seeking ways to make a difference.
When Kelly was in his 50s, the trucking company he worked for went bankrupt. Rather than be disappointed, he decided it was a good time to take his writing seriously. It was a dream Kelly harbored in his heart since childhood.
With more than 40,000 known illnesses, Susan said there are too few doctors treating many more patients. That means doctors usually can’t afford to take the time it takes to really delve into the underlying causes of an illness.
After retiring months before his 50th birthday, Chris’ new purpose involves helping people prepare for the unexpected, and contending with the post-traumatic stress or survivor’s guilt that often follows.
We can always juggle things around to cram one more activity or appointment into our calendar, but we need space to relax, unwind and declutter our minds, too.
is showing how people over 50 can make an impact on the world around them by simply sharing wisdom accumulated through a lifetime of learning and hard-earned lessons.
But, before jumping into their new community, they wanted to take a year off to tackle an item from their bucket list. As outdoor people who enjoy traveling, the couple opted to go hiking.
Jen realized after she turned 50 that her whole life had been devoted to serving other people. In doing so, she had neglected the things she loved to do herself.
Today I am interviewing a man and woman from Louisiana who had it all – well-paying jobs and a magnificent house on a private 110-acre lake. But, they gave it all up to enjoy a life of adventure and helping others.
Don read a study recently that suggested 75% of people are disengaged at work, and that often comes back to a lack of purpose.
The trip was not only an adventure, but kind of a pilgrimage, both spiritually and physically, to overcome some things that had taken control of Perry's life.
When Mike felt depressed and unfulfilled in his work, he began a habit to create something new every day for a year until he renewed his purpose.
David is a visionary who saw a flaw in the way people were living their lives, and developed a mission to help them alter their trajectory to enjoy happier, more fulfilling lives by helping others around them.
Tim explained a transition doesn’t signal that your purpose in life is coming to an end. Rather, it’s going in a different direction.
What I liked about the Clements’ story is that they did not wait until they had permission from society to “retire” before launching out on a lifestyle of travel.
When she was younger, Andrea was given a lot of career and life advice from people who never bothered to ask what she was passionate about doing. Being over 50 is when people can finally do things they put on the back burner decades ago.
When Phyllis described receiving a “God assignment,” it was a specific mission that took into account her natural skills, learned talents and various life experiences, but with a sense of urgency.
Nick is authentic in his videos. Rather than adopting a “Hey, look at me, I’m amazing and wonderful,” approach to online content creation, Nick says, “Hey, I found this to be fun and interesting, and I think you’d enjoy it, too.”
Todd guides people into creating a wheel of life that focuses on nine key elements: career, finances, heath, family and friends, romance, personal development, recreation and their contribution to society.
For many years, Rich served as a pastor. Now he helps other pastors prepare for the future by pursing business ideas that create income or expand their sense of purpose.
Welcome to Episode 18 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50 and your host for today’s show.
Forward From 50 has featured some incredible stories of men and women whose lives have gone in completely different directions after passing their 50th birthdays. Rich Avery is different.
He knew early in his life what his purpose was and he hasn't deviated much from that. For many years, Rich served as a pastor. Now he helps other pastors prepare for the future by pursing business ideas that create income or expand their sense of purpose.
He entered the ministry when he was 26 years old after working to raise money for a non-profit organization. He loved the job and the people he worked with. Still, Rich had a gnawing feeling he was made to do something else.
Instead of attending a seminary, Rich jumped into full-time ministerial training by doing crisis intervention with local homeless people. He spent half his time working at church caring for families in need, and the rest of his time on the street caring for people who had given up on life.
In 2019, Rich’s church offered him a sabbatical to rest, reflect and contemplate what his life would look like the following year after he turned 50. The church gave him a stipend to invest in personal development and to enjoy some time with his family.
So, Rich booked a cruise organized by Dan Miller, who authored the book “48 Days to the Work You Love.” The cruise combined time off in the Caribbean with teaching and personal growth counseling.
One thing Rich and his wife, Candace, talked about was whether he should wait until he was 65 and retired before jumping into some new ideas, or start now to begin living out the next chapter in their lives while they still had energy to pursue it.
When his sabbatical concluded, Rich was inspired to pursue a new direction related to his lifelong calling, but different enough to challenge him in new ways. He felt drawn to help pastors prepare for what will be a new way of doing church.
There were already a number of social, cultural and economic trends influencing the American church before COVID arrived; however, that situation simply magnified problems churches had been ignoring for years. Rich felt pastors needed to brace for a fundamental shift in the way churches would operate and, especially, how ministry staff would be paid in the future.
For much of the post-World War II era, pastoring a church was a full-time job for many men who were paid directly from church coffers. As a result, pastors were expected to devote their full attention to leading a church and guiding members.
Yet, church attendance has fallen dramatically in the past 20 years, especially during the COVID years. In smaller congregations, tithes and offerings to support the church started to shrink. Many churches began employing dual-vocation pastors, meaning they worked part-time at the church, but also held outside jobs to help cover expenses.
Rich started a coaching business called More Than a Pastor, to help ministers prepare for the change. He launched a blog as well as a podcast and assembled resources to help pastors looking for ways to create income outside the church. He also works with people who don’t necessarily feel called to be a pastor, but still want to serve God. Many times, those people think their only option is to serve as a full-time pastor.
During the first step, people brainstorm with Rich to uncover their sweet spot which combines the right ratio of time and money. To do that, Rich employs a GPS – a plan to identify their:
- Goals or dreams for life and what they want to accomplish.
- Passions or experiences that get them excited and motivates them to make a bigger difference.
- Skills and talents.
Rich explained there is a sweet spot in everyone's life where their goals, passions and skills intersect. Then he helps them to create an opportunity around that sweet spot in order to take their lives to the next level.
For seasoned citizens, their older years are the best years to apply their skills, talent and experiences to live in their sweet spot of purpose. It doesn't have to be huge step, such as creating an organization or even quitting a job.
A lot of times people don’t get started because their idea is too big, and that can be overwhelming. So Rich says to start small. He said there are thousands of businesses you can launch with little or no money. You don't need to get a building and hire five employees to get it off the ground. If there has been an idea burning within you for a while, then talk to people you trust about it. Take baby steps to get it going.
To connect with Rich, visit www.morethanapastor.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, I will be talking to a man who walked away from a 9-to-5 job to start a business of his own working with companies to improve their corporate culture. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 17 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50 and your host for today’s show.
Some people experience debilitating trauma in their lives that works to knock them down and leaves them unable to get up again. Other people, like today’s guest, Janet Black, used that trauma to propel them forward to help others experiencing the same type of pain.
Janet had been sexually abused as a teenager. She wrote about her experience as part of a long-term healing process. She realized there were a lot of books and materials for adults pertaining to sexual abuse, but nothing available for teens and children who had been abused.
So Janet wrote one, but could not find a publisher willing to embrace that taboo subject. As a result, she tucked it away in a drawer and forgot about it.
A nurse by trade, Janet first started delivering babies, then became a family nurse practitioner. Unfortunately, as she got older, she developed fibromyalgia, a medical condition which causes increased pain throughout her body and can also result in cognitive issues as well as sleep problems.
That created a condition known as “fibro fog,” which impacted her memory to the point she stepped away from nursing before she made a mistake that could hurt a patient.
Unable to work as a nurse, she turned to writing, dusted off her old manuscript and decided to publish the book herself. Then she wrote another one about living with fibromyalgia to help others better understand what people afflicted with the illness were feeling and experiencing.
From there, Janet wrote a book about environmental toxins and weight loss before delving in another book about breast cancer. She even collaborated with her husband, who is also a writer, on a fictional bool about a homeless man who decided to change his situation and work his way out of that lifestyle.
For Janet, it feels really good to create something from nothing, especially when it is a book that helps someone else. Doing so almost became an obsession or sense of duty for her because Janet knew she had to do something with her creative energy instead of just sitting around all day doing nothing.
Although Janet has volunteered for different projects in the past, she said it feels even better to know that something she wrote is actually helping to educate people about a topic she’s interested in writing about. She hears from readers all the time how refreshing it was to read something from the perspective of a person who has experienced the same trauma, yet was able to move beyond that point.
At the very least, readers realize they are not alone in dealing with their problem, Janet explained. They are empowered simply by knowing someone else struggled with the same problem, and they are encouraged by just hearing that person’s story.
After having to step away from nursing, becoming an author really helped Janet to feel productive and she no longer harbors feelings of depression brought on by a lack of purpose. She may not make a lot of money writing books, but that's not the point of her purpose. Janet doesn't write to get rich, but rather to find fulfillment in her heart and to share her research or personal stories knowing it will impact someone else in a better way.
Janet said retirement doesn't mean you just quit doing things. It means you identify different things you would rather do instead of whatever you did for a living. It is a time to really open up and explore opportunities. If you have some income, then when you’re retired you usually have plenty of time. Retirement is the ideal time to engage in things you've wanted to do for years, but kept pushing to the side.
Today, Janet is in her 70s and still feels called to research and write about topics she's especially interested in learning about herself. Janet believes she will live well into her 90s, but in order to do that, she must enjoy life and not get stressed out about things. That’s solid advice for everyone considering all that’s going on in the world around us.
People can connect with Janet at www.janetlblack.com. All of her books are available on Amazon.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week I will be speaking with a retired pastor who helps other pastors prepare for the future by pursing business ideas that create income or expand their sense of purpose. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Today, I am featuring a woman who is a resident of the United Kingdom who discovered how to reawaken long-dormant dreams not only for her career, but for her heart as well.
Born in Lancashire, England, and now living in Yorkshire, Gill Bentham went into nursing directly out of high school. She loved the whole idea of being involved with people, especially one-on-one.
Gill’s parents supported her career decision, although her art teacher was extremely unhappy when she chose that path rather than following her dream of becoming an artist.
As her career progressed, Gill focused on palliative care in a hospice environment. She became a lecturer teaching medical professionals about end-of-life issues and how they can better control a patient’s pain by manage symptoms.
However, Gill wasn’t doing much to sustain her own personal growth to the point she felt nourished and refreshed. Art had always done that for her when Gill was younger, and so did journaling. Over the years, her writing skills improved to the point she started writing about a common theme in her life – frustration.
Gill’s frustration stemmed from having suppressed her creative energy and agreeing with others that she needed to pursue nursing rather than become an artist.
After turning 43, Gill’s life took an unexpected turn. She went through a messy divorce and lost her ministry after a flood ruined her church. It took Gill almost eight years to recover from the pain of all that happened before she could embrace life again.
Gill was spot on in describing her feelings of frustration. I think many of us experience that when we abandon what we’re naturally inclined to pursue for more practical vocations at the urging of well-meaning friends and relatives.
Fortunately, Gill realized she had a responsibility to welcome change and to put certain things in place to create more opportunities than she could by simply sticking her head in the sand.
I loved her story about when she decided to open her heart to the possibility of being in love once again, Gill met a wonderful man who was literally, just down the block for most of her life. I’ve heard it said that God often hides things from us only to give them to us later when we’re ready to receive them. That appears to be what happened to Gill.
She offered some outstanding advice when she noted people don’t have to be narrow-minded about what the second half of their life looks like. Even with the typical issues and struggles with which people over 50 have to contend, they can find have joy and optimism on the horizon instead of just looking backward with regret.
Today, Gill wants to make people stop in their tracks, be honest with themselves, and dig out those dreams and visions which have become dry and rusty. Today, she is more focused on her legacy rather than her destiny. Her life became more focused on what she can give and leave for others and the difference she can make in their lives.
Whatever you’ve wanted to do, even if it’s something physically difficult to do now that you’re older, Gill insists there is a version of your earlier dream that you can still pursue and it will be very rewarding.
To connect with Gill, visit www.gillbentham.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 15 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50 and your host for today’s show.
Steve Rupert grew up in Michigan, but he moved 21 times since 1987 before finally settling down in Fredericksburg, Va., after meeting Patti, the love of his life, to whom he was married in September 2021.
Prior to turning 50, Steve had multiple careers. His first stage involved working as an electronic technician in the Air Force where he was stationed in the Philippines and Oklahoma. He did that for nine years.
Then, in the mid-1990s, he worked in the telecommunications industry at jobs that took him to several different states. But, Steve kept bumping into a ceiling on all the jobs because he lacked a college degree. So, in 2002, he went back to school to complete his bachelor's degree. Then he began working in project management positions until he wound up working for a wind turbine company is Washington state. Family pressure nudged him to return to Virginia.
After turning 50, Steve's life changed when he found true love for the first time. He had been married twice before, but he got involved in relationships for the wrong reasons, he explained, noting that he was filled with self-doubt and wondering what he was doing wrong that caused his other relationships to fail.
That all changed after a chance encounter in Great Falls Park near Washington, D.C., shortly after Steve turned 50. Hiking along the trails requires people to scramble over loose rocks and some rather large boulders. He was with a group of strangers and just chatting with others as they hiked.
It didn’t take long before Steve thought his new friend, Patti, might be a kindred spirit. They wound up talking for several hours that night, then went out the following night to a restaurant where they continued to talk for hours – stopping after realizing the restaurant had closed 45 minutes earlier.
The experience taught Steve a lesson that had evaded him earlier in his adult life, and that was to simply be himself rather than trying to pretend to be somebody else. Prior to meeting Patti, Steve had spent most of his life trying to make other people happy, which meant he had to become the type of person they wanted him to be.
He finally understood it was up to him to make sure that he kept himself happy rather than relying on other people for affirmation and personal happiness.
But, during the same time, Steve was forced to change careers again after he had been putting in 60 to 70 hours a week on a project. He was emotionally and intellectually exhausted, and it showed in his attitude. In fact, he wound up being terminated by his employer.
Steve knew he needed a new job, but this time he would be really picky.
To tell the rest of his story about finding true love and a rewarding career after turning 50, please welcome Steve Rupert to the show.
I appreciate Steve Rupert for being so vulnerable in sharing his story with us today.
Steve’s story resonates with me on several levels. First, he realized trying to make everyone else happy only made him miserable. The disease to please sucked the joy and purpose right out of his life and it reflected in his attitude. That only compounded Steve’s problems and made the situations and relationships he was involved in even worse.
An old adage explains that a lion who is trapped in a cage all his life no longer realizes he’s a lion. The same holds true for people. When they try to please everyone else by trying to live up to their expectations, it’s very possible to get trapped in an unfulfilling life.
Steve’s wife, Patti, admitted that she'd rather see him happy by working at a minimum wage job rather than having a lucrative position somewhere, but working a lot of hours. How many of use have stuck with jobs we hated simply because we liked the security of a paycheck?
I’ve talked to so many people over the years who say they dislike their jobs and the people they work with, but they can’t afford to leave because of “the benefits.” When they realize that happiness and career fulfillment are some of the most priceless benefits to life, they start to understand they can buy whatever other benefits they need on their own.
In the end, Steve started his own company as a mobile RV technician and RV inspector because it gave him total control over his income, schedule and the people he worked with. We see that in movies all the time – people who have amassed great wealth, but have no time to enjoy it and no people to enjoy it with because the job took so much out of them that they didn’t have anything left to invest in relationships.
The business Steve selected was ideally suited toward his unique skills. Most of his adult life has been spent troubleshooting and solving problems. With the inspection business, now he could work as much as he wants to and even set his own schedule.
That means he has the freedom to pursue things he is truly passionate about. I know Steve Rupert will be tremendously successful now by working at a job he enjoys and spending time with a woman who loves him for who he truly is. People can connect with Steve on Facebook or by visiting www.sunriservservices.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, you’ll hear a woman’s perspective about starting over in a new career and finding love after turning 50. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 14 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50, and your host for today’s show.
A former postal worker, Faye Bryant also worked as a bookkeeper and for a publishing agency, but it was her love for writing that really allowed her to spread her wings after turning 50.
Faye loves to tell stories and she wanted to convey her life story and those of her mother and grandmother. However, she thought they were needlessly dry and uninspiring – simply a recitation of facts in chronological order. It was boring, so Faye opted to transform the stories into novels.
While based on reality, the stories are more compelling because of her use of descriptive words and dialogue to give each person’s story a flavor of adventure and intrigue. Writing it that way also allowed Faye to highlight a common thread to show the lives of three different women and how their individual experiences intertwined to shape the lives of others.
For some reason, people often find her stories to be inspirational for their own lives because they can identify themselves as characters in one of her books. Not only do readers understand they’re not the only people who had to deal with some difficult situations, but they can also see it’s possible to enjoy life despite those kinds of things happening to them, Faye explained.
Since finishing her book series, Faye is also working on several other books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Today, she is also serving as a coach to help other people discover their purpose and help them realize where their real passions are and what they want to do going forward.
Faye noted there is a place in your heart that is calling you to do something very specific. Many times it nudges people in a certain direction as children or teenagers. Yet, there is still time to pursue that by contemplating what that dream from years ago would look like in your life if you embraced it today.
When Faye was a teenager, she wanted to be a psychologist, but that was rather vague and ominous, so she went in a different direction. But, she now realizes the underlying reason for wanting to becoming a psychologist was to help people discover themselves based on how they think and feel. Today, she derives a great deal of pleasure helping people to have breakthrough moments in their lives.
As a coach, Faye offers three types of services. They are recovery coaching, purpose coaching and focus coaching.
Recovery coaching is where Faye helps people understand their need to feel, deal and heal with things that happened to them by looking back on key events in their lives to see what happened and what caused it.
Purpose coaching helps people discover what makes them tick and breathes life into their spirit.
Focus coaching guides people to navigate around considerable distractions in their lives in order to move forward with what they want to do, but with a clearer focus and better understanding of how to get there.
When they discover their God-given purpose and how to live in it, they can look at their past with renewed vision to employ new confidence and greater ability to redeem it by creating a divine mission for their lives today.
To connect with Faye and learn more about her coaching services, visit www.fayebryant.com. Her books are available on Amazon.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, I’ll be speaking with a man who knows first-hand that it’s possible to find love again after turning 50. After several failed relationships earlier in his life, he had given up on finding someone who shared his passions and enthusiasm for life – and he found his new wife on a hiking trailing of all places. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 13 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50, and your host for today’s show.
When you think about it, the role coincidence plays in our lives can be pretty impactful. It certainly was for the subject of this week’s interview.
Steve Barkley grew up in Sunnyvale, Calif., which is the heart of Silicon Valley, in the late 1950s and 60s when the area consisted of big orchards and wide open land.
After graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Steve went to work for Advance Micro Devices (AMD) during the Wild West days of the electronics industry. In 1983, the microprocessor group moved to Austin, Texas, and Steve jumped at a chance to leave California.
By then, he was married with two small children. His job was interesting and challenging for many years; however, after production moved overseas, eventually a change in management eliminated his job. In fact, Steve had to lay off his staff in the morning before he was laid off himself after lunch. Ironically, Steve had to show his boss how to go through the process of terminating his employment.
Yet, when the job change arrived, Steve was very well prepared, and that’s where coincidence played a role. He and his wife, Tammy, had six boys before Steve turned 45. They were all baseball enthusiasts and played on various teams. One summer, as Steve was approaching his 50th birthday, one of their sons decided he wanted to try martial arts instead.
A chance encounter in a supermarket parking lot led the family to a new taekwondo studio opening nearby. Soon, the entire family was taking lessons. Steve fell in love with the sport and was soon serving as an instructor himself.
Steve explains how it all went down, but eventually, he bought the studio while still working for AMD. So, when his job ended, he was able to put all of his attention toward growing the studio.
Although COVID derailed the family’s plans for a while, a helpful landlord worked with them to keep the studio open. As soon as restrictions were lifted, families were pouring into the studio with a renewed appreciation for health and fitness – and a desire to do more things together as a family. Steve was in the right place at the right time with the right service.
His eyes were opened to the fact some seasoned citizens were reluctant to take classes because they were uncomfortable training around younger children and teenagers, so Steve started a new class just for people over 50.
That opened the door for Steve to form a new business called Live Forever Young to help seasoned citizens stop thinking of themselves as old and to take steps to ensure they had the physical and mental ability to enjoy purposeful lives many years into the future.
Steve is absolutely right in that “being old” is a state of mind because a 70-year-old is still considered young to someone in his or her 90s. Yet, because many people get caught up in a poor diet and lack of exercise, by the time they reach age 50 or 60, they no longer feel physically capable of doing the things they want to do.
Today, Steve is inspired to help people of all ages to get in better shape and overcome any self-limiting beliefs they may have about their own abilities.
To connect with Steve and learn more about his business, visit www.liveforeveryoung.me. People who listen to this podcast episode can enter the word "purpose" into the contact form on Steve's website to receive a special gift.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, I’ll be speaking with a woman who came up with a brilliant way to share her life story and that of her mother and grandmother by transforming their real-life accounts into a fictional tales of adventure, love, betrayal and mystery. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 12 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50 and your host for today’s show.
This week, I am speaking with a grandmother who was called back into full-time parenting duty to care for her two granddaughters after their parents both became addicted to drugs and were unable to care for themselves and their children.
Michelle Weidenbenner had two biological children, a boy and a girl. When her children were in their teens, Michelle and her husband, Dave, adopted another child who had been orphaned in Russia. In order to care for the toddler, Michelle gave up her interior design work to become a stay-at-home mom.
Closing in on 50 and still raising a young child, Michelle took up writing to keep her mind sharp. She took writing courses and attended conferences to meet other writers.
When Michelle was nearly 60, she and her husband became guardians of their two elementary-age granddaughters when their parents became homeless as an addiction took a tremendous toll on their lives. Michelle’s son and daughter-in-law advanced from drinking to opioids to heroin and finally to methamphetamines. They became emaciated and Michelle thought they would die.
Fortunately, the parents were able to overcome the addiction and achieve sobriety so the family could be reunited. But the experience was eye-opening for Michelle, who took to writing about the situation to help others who are going through similar problems.
She has written non-fiction books, serious novels and even children’s stories. In fact, Michelle co-authored a book with her 7-year-old granddaughter. That book is designed to address the problem of children being separated from their parents, but in a kid-friendly format.
One of the biggest contributions Michelle has made was in founding the All Mighty Moms group to create a support community for people who are dealing with a family addiction problem. She also developed a program for moms of addicted loved ones who want to heal from the shame, blame and chaos, so they are in a better position to help their children and others.
It took a lot of courage for Michelle Weidenbenner to share her deeply-personal story with others. Addiction is a problem that many people don’t like to talk about. It’s often embarrassing and painful.
But, Michelle’s story is remarkable because it shows how someone’s personal experiences, combined with their natural talent and developed skills, help to put him or her in a very unique position to help other people.
Michelle and her husband wanted to be foster parents, so they took training to become certified. That training helped them several years later in dealing with an adoptive daughter who suffered from detachment syndrome. But, it also helped prepare them for the difficulties of raising their grandchildren who were separated from their own parents.
The training helped Michelle learn to help parents better communicate with their own children and grandchildren while contending with someone in addiction.
She joined a mastermind group just to surround herself with people of passion and purpose. However, the members opened Michelle’s eyes to ways she could turn her pain into profit, not only to pay for expenses, but to give her money to build a bigger platform.
The experience of having to contend with an addicted child opened Michelle’s eyes to early warning signs about other serious problems addicts must address before they can get treatment for the illness and begin working their way out of a hole they dug.
The situation required Michelle to learn new skills, like leading Zoom meetings, and using technology to manage a membership community.
"It's often the fear of doing something new that holds people back," Michelle explained. "You might ask yourself, 'Am I good enough?' But when Michelle realized it wasn't about her and that other people needed the information and services she offered, then everything changed.
Today, she is motivated to take her message to 1 million other mothers who need empowerment to overcome a situation similar to one Michelle’s family endured for several years. I know she has the tenacity to reach that impressive goal.
To connect with Michelle, visit www.michelleweidenbenner.com. All of Michelle's books are available on Amazon.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, I will be speaking with a former tech industry executive who found a renewed sense of purpose after turning 50 by teaching martial arts to adults and children. He also started a business to help seasoned citizens live forever young. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 11 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50 and your host for today’s show.
Steve Hurwitz grew up in the Boston area and, shortly after graduating from high school in 1981, he went to work for a data center maintaining room-size computer systems. That propelled him into an information technology career.
He got sick of the New England weather and moved to Phoenix in his mid-20s, where Steve climbed the corporate ladder to get his own corner office, a big house and a very nice salary. But, deep down, he wasn't happy.
It took him 30 years, but Steve eventually broke out of the 9-to-5 rat race simply because he wanted more freedom. For years, he had been a fitness enthusiast. So he opted to unplug from corporate life and go to work as a personal trainer and later as a fitness director.
Steve hadn't been in the job long before he realized being a fitness director at that gym was little more than a glorified sales manager who enticed people to buy personal training sessions.
So he returned to the technology industry, but this time as an instructor. That's when Steve dated a woman who owned a wildlife show. In fact, he was directed to hold a scorpion, tarantula and snake on their first date.
He joined her business, first by designing its website, then by becoming the senior animal wrangler making presentations at birthday parties, school assemblies and other events. Things were booming until COVID arrived and put an end to public gatherings, which caused the business to grind to a halt.
With everything shut down, it gave Steve a chance to spend more time RVing. Others felt the same way because the industry soon exploded in popularity. But, at age 57, Steve saw an opportunity that seemed perfectly aligned with his skills that would also give him full control of his time and income.
He moved from Phoenix to Texas where he took courses to become a certified RV technician and inspector. After researching the idea of becoming a certified RV inspector and technician, Steve looked at various markets. He discovered there so much opportunity inspecting and fixing RVs that someone have to try to fail. He decided to set up his business in Galveston, Texas.
I know it requires skill to fix and inspect RVs, but Steve also knows there are more than 12 million RV-owning households in America, including more than 2 million people who travel and work in RVs full-time. The industry has built nearly 600,000 new units annually for the past few years. However, there has been a woefully-inadequate shortage of trained technicians and inspectors for decades.
Demand for their services is so high that Steve said anyone who can provide good customer service and actually fix problems for people will make a very good living. Because there is one technician for every 15,000 RVs on the road, I personally know many mobile RV service technicians who make upward of $100,000 annually.
Every single RV has an issue – even the expensive $2 million dollar Prevost motorhomes. Eventually, the water heater is going to break and Steve explained the owner isn't going to fix it himself. Having lived in an RV myself fulltime for three years, I know Steve is spot on. Most RV owners keep a running list of problems that need attention if they are ever fortunate enough to get a service appointment without having to wait weeks or months.
Steve paid less than $20,000 to get training, buy tools and start his limited liability corporation. The $100 or so he spent on business cards was the only advertising cost Steve incurred other than a cap with his company’s name embroidered on it.
By working just 10 to 15 hours a week, he already has more than enough money to support himself and have plenty of time to play the rest of the week. Steve also encourages people to try whatever they've dreamed of doing because he knows he'd have a lot of regret if he didn't try something he's always wanted to do.
When you think about it, 50, 60 and 70 are just numbers and you're truly only as old as you feel, Steve explained. If you have the passion to do something, then do it, he added, noting that any hobby can be turned into an occupation.
To connect with Steve, visit www.tekrv.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, I will be interviewing a woman who was called back into parenting duty around the time other people her age were enjoying their roles as grandparents. She gained custody of two grandchildren after their parents were both battling debilitating addictions. The experience encouraged her to start a support group to help other women in similar situations. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Welcome to Episode 10 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words. I’m Greg Gerber, the founder of Forward From 50, and your host for today’s show.
Eric Pearson was not a typical college student when he was growing up in Maryland. It took him 15 years to get his undergraduate degree and another 12 years to earn his master’s degree.
His first professional job was working as a teacher and coach for a prep school. He left that job for a position with Westinghouse, which later became Northrop Grumman, where he wrote technical support documentation while configuring data for the company.
Eventually, he landed a job as a corporate trainer and developed a program to lead younger professionals through a leadership development process.
The program worked. In fact, many of Eric’s students at Northrop Grumman moved on to successful careers at Google, Amazon, Motorola, Honeywell and other major tech firms.
When he retired in 2018, Eric found renewed purpose as a middle school substitute teacher. He read a story in a local newspaper about the desperate need for substitute teachers. So he submitted an application and was quickly approved. The paper didn’t exaggerate. Eric said he could fill in as a substitute every day of the week, if he desired.
Being a teacher today is hard enough. Being a substitute teacher for squirrely middle school children can be incredibly challenging. Yet, Eric finds his demeanor allows him to relate well to his students to the point he can impact their lives even on a short-term basis.
His teaching skills are desperately needed. Due to COVID, he said students pretty much lost two years of education and development, and they are hungry for a return to normalcy. Even worse, when it comes to math, seventh and eighth graders often perform at third and fourth grade levels.
One of my favorite quotes of the interview was when Eric explained, “You may not think you’re getting through to them or having any impact at that the moment. But, later, you discover they really were listening and you’ve influenced the direction of their lives.”
In addition to teaching, Eric also authored a book based on the pain of losing his 14-year-old son who was born profoundly disabled. Titled “Ryan’s Stories: God’s Perfect Child,” it was written from Ryan’s perspective as though he was telling his own life story, even though he couldn’t communicate when he was alive.
His next book was titled “The People You Meet In First Class: When Chance Meetings Become Life-Changing Conversations.” It was based on Eric’s 40 years of air travel experiences both in coach and first class. It showed how chance encounters with people can have significant impact on the trajectories of their lives.
His latest book, “What’s Cookin’: Feeding the Heart and Mind,” was released in January and follows Eric’s life-long pursuit to learn how to cook starting when he was a Boy Scout and continuing until he was an adult on assignment for three years living in a California hotel.
Eric has no plans to slow down any time soon. In fact, he sees retirement as a golden opportunity to share with others all the things he has learned during his life.
To connect with Eric, visit www.facebook.com/eric.pearson.7796.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
Next week, I’ll be speaking with a man who worked as a personal fitness trainer until COVID shut down his company. The experience changed the trajectory of his life when he opted to become a mobile service technician at age 57. Ironically, today he has more time off than he ever did while making more than enough money to support his lifestyle.
I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
Photo: Betty Mills, right, with her protégé, Maggie, and the horse that connected them, Legacy Danseur.
Welcome to Episode 9 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words.
This week, I’m interviewing Betty Mills, who left her job as a corporate human relations manager at age 52 to become a self-employed consultant advising auto and recreation vehicle dealers about human resources issues. She lives in the Norfolk, Va., area, but worked with companies across the country.
In the interview, Betty describes how she had to overcome fear and hesitation to leave the security of a monthly paycheck to jump into a business of her own six years after her husband died.
All her life, Betty has loved being around horses. She owned her first horse when she was 8 years old and has maintained her own stable most of her adult life. Over the years, she would board horses for others and even offer riding lessons.
When Betty retired in 2016, she kept herself busy by mentoring children and teenagers who expressed an interest in riding and caring for horses themselves. Some of her protégés became competitive riders.
Betty describes what she does for kids and teens and how they have impacted her life as well.
I have known Betty Mills professionally from my days as a journalist covering the RV industry. She has a big heart and a strong desire to help other people.
As a DODO – Dad of Daughters Only – myself, I love how Betty desires to make a difference in the lives of young people, especially girls. These 100-pound young ladies feel empowered being able to control 1,400-pound horses. It gives them a lot of confidence that carries over into other things they do, such as school and relationships. Betty helps teenage girls learn to become assertive, but not in an aggressive way.
The youngsters Betty works with must earn their ability to ride horses by learning to care for the animals. They clean the horses, equipment and barn. Caring for such a large animal becomes a regular responsibility for her protégés. Responsibility is certainly missing from the lives of many children and teens today.
But the real magic of mentoring occurs with the one-on-one time Betty spends with the teens as they ready the horse for a lesson and clean up afterward. The kids often open their hearts to Betty and she can offer advice or just listen to their stories.
Horses aren’t the only way Betty mentors people. Sometimes a teen will come to her home to make dinner or put together a puzzle. Just having the ability to talk freely with another trusted adult about their fears, concerns and frustrations can have a tremendous impact on the youngster's life.
For people over 50, Betty recommends they get involve in Facebook groups where they can serve as wise sages to people of all ages who want to learn what the older folks already know.
I really appreciate Betty sharing her story with us today. You can connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/betty.c.mills.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next time I’ll be speaking with a man who served as a professional engineer for many years, but now his biggest joy comes from serving as a substitute teacher at a middle school. He’ll explain how he, as a 70-year-old, relates to teens and tweens in a way that impacts their lives and guides them toward the future. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening!
This week I will be speaking with a woman who endured some pretty heartbreaking abuse as a child. Yet, today, she’s made it her life’s purpose to speak with people about the impact sexual abuse has on their lives and offer steps they can take to reclaim their innocence.
Jeanette Finn’s father sexually abused her often, starting at age 10 and continuing for five years. The abuse had a dramatic impact on the direction of her life. Jeanette didn’t see how much she had been changed by the abuse until she was able to observe the life of a normal 10-year-old girl and experience that innocence through her granddaughter’s eyes.
Jeanette had dulled her pain with alcohol so often that she became an alcoholic in her teens. Trying to gain sobriety put her on a roller-coaster path of coming out of addiction only to fall back into that lifestyle a year or two later.
Jeanette’s research showed that 50 percent of women she encounters on speaking engagements admit to her they were also sexually abused as children or teenagers. Today, she wants women to feel comfortable talking about what happened to them. It does not need to be a secret and they do not have to live with shame and guilt.
The timing is right for a national discussion on sexual abuse of children, Jeanette explained. Thanks to societal attention on gender identity, youngsters are exposed to sexual topics much younger than they have been in the past. They are more frequently targeted for abuse, as well.
In fact, some studies show as many as one out of every 20 boys and one out of every five girls are sexually abused before their 13th birthdays.
I truly appreciate Jeanette Finn’s honesty to share her difficult journey with the rest of us. Hopefully, just hearing Jeanette’s story will help other current and former victims of childhood sexual abuse to realize they are not alone.
As happens so many times with others, Jeanette brought the baggage of her abuse into her first marriage. In fact, she married a man who was very similar to her father in many ways in the way he would treat Jeanette as an object for his fantasies.
After divorcing and remarrying, Jeanette was finally able to maintain a consistent path toward gaining complete sobriety. Once she was able to think clearly again, she wrote a book titled, “Innocent Again: Three Keys to Joy Restored After Childhood Sexual Abuse.”
Jeanette was able to create a non-profit organization to accept donations in order to freely share materials to help women recover from the devastating effect of abuse.
Not only does the victim have to recover, but those who were close to the abuser and victim often ignored or covered up the crime. For Jeanette, that meant confronting her mother to have a raw, real and exceptionally-honest conversation about what happened. Only then could the two of them heal their own broken relationship.
The thought of dredging up an ugly, hurtful past and digging through a lot of painful memories often keeps women from going through the process to find genuine healing. But, Jeanette said it doesn’t have to be that way.
“You can learn to be healed, have joy and start living your life right now,” she said. “Then if something comes up while you’re living life that makes you really angry or that causes you to question your reaction to a situation, then you can see it through the eyes of trauma you experienced.”
People who are caught up in an abusive situation or who endured abuse in the past can find free resources Jeanette developed at www.innocentagain.com. Connecting with Jeanette can help women renew, reclaim and restore themselves following the trauma of childhood sexual abuse so they can restore their joy and become innocent again.
To connect with Jeanette, visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/renewreclaimrestore.
A Kindle version of her book "Innocent Again: Three Keys to Joy Restored After Childhood Sexual Abuse" is available on Amazon.com.
Both books are available as eBooks for free on her website and as signed paperbacks for a donation.
Jeanette Finn’s story of a painful past has a happy ending because she turned her pain into a renewed sense of purpose to help others overcome similar pain they experienced.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. Next week, I’ll be interviewing a woman from Virginia who has always loved horses. Today, she helps children and teens learn to ride, care for and love the majestic animals as well. She also describes simple ways any seasoned citizen can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others by serving as a mentor. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast.
Welcome to Episode 7 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words.
This week, will hear from a ground-breaking couple who made a tremendous impact on the RV industry by helping others to fall in love with the RV lifestyle. What’s really impressive, is that they were not equipped with special knowledge or education when they started. Rather they simply shared information as they were learning about it themselves.
When John and Kathy Huggins were in their late 50s, there lives completely changed direction. Kathy was a receptionist and John worked in an industrial manufacturing facility. Foreign competition was decimating his company and his entire industry. John lost his job after training his replacement, but it didn’t phase him one bit.
Kathy had wanted to go camping for years, and she was finally able to convince John to buy a tent to use while attending a convention in Branson. But after just a few nights of sleeping on the ground, they realized they were way too old for that kind of adventure.
After selling their condo out-of-the-blue to someone moving to Florida, the Huggins bought a motorhome and hit the road to tour America. The following winter, they were back in Florida when their son called with a desperate request. He worked for a radio station and there was an abrupt opening to host a 10 a.m. Saturday show and their son asked his folks to step in and do a show about RVing.
They called their radio show “Living the RV Dream.” What happened next is quite a story. I just love John and Kathy Huggins’ story because it shows how anyone – truly anyone – can make a difference in the lives of others by just passionately pursuing their purpose.
Living the RV Dream grew from a one-hour radio show serving a small audience in Florida, into one of the largest podcasts about the RV lifestyle in the country within just a few months. That show spawned several books, an active Facebook community and even several live events.
All they did was research a topic they were interested in learning more about, and share their findings with others. They financed their travel lifestyle by working part-time, limited-term jobs and telling others how they did it. They told people about their favorite products and offered advice on what to look for when buying RVs.
Their total investment in starting a podcast was $200, and the show eventually attracted 8,000 listeners per episode. But, that was surpassed by their active Facebook community of more than 80,000 people before a medical condition forced them to come off the road and sell their business.
Kathy offered some excellent advice when she said, “You have a choice. You can stay in the same house and golf at the same course every week, or you can travel and see the entire country. You can watch television or surf the internet all day, or go learn skills you have always wanted to learn. Retirement is an opportunity to change directions and find something you have a passion for and fall in love with it.”
But, you don’t have to wait until retirement to start living your dream. There are more options today to earn money than ever before. Like John and Kathy Huggins like to say, you’ll only regret the things you never do. Once you start living out the purpose for which you were specifically created to perform, then the only thing you’ll regret is not getting started even earlier.
You can connect with John and Kathy Huggins at www.facebook.com/jnkhuggins.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next time I will be speaking with a woman who turned a traumatic childhood experience into a movement to help people violated by sexual abuse, especially as children and teens, to recover their innocence again. It’s a powerful story and I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thanks for listening.
This week, I’ll be speaking with a man who struggled for years to overcome a problem that is common to many people –procrastination.
Jeff Kramer is an Arizona native and civil engineer who raised four daughters with his wife, Sharon. Prior to turning 50, he worked in public services for several Arizona municipalities.
One of Jeff's most frequent problems is a tendency to be a perfectionist, which stems from a fear that he's not good enough. He says he has probably completed at least 30 training programs during his lifetime searching for the secret key to help him to work more efficiently to get things done.
However, it was during some one-on-one coaching sessions with a procrastination specialist that Jeff learned the root cause of that problem stems from his need for everything to be perfect in order to take the first step. Consequently, perfectionists are also procrastinators because they always need more information before they feel comfortable moving forward.
The real turning point for Jeff was accepting the fact he didn't have to be perfect, nor did his skills have to perfect in order for him to bring value to others. After coming to that realization, Jeff wrote “The Perfection Paradox” to help people get past being stuck in perfectionism.
Today, whenever he signs a copy of his book, Jeff inscribes it with the message, “Be freed from your flaws and escape to excellence.”
In his 40s, everything Jeff set out to do had to be perfect or it never saw the light of day. Now in his 50s, he is no longer bound by that need for perfection. As he grows and learns, he can pass that knowledge on to others even if he's only a step or two ahead them. Helping people move from their starting point forward works to build momentum for Jeff and his clients.
Today, Jeff realizes he doesn’t have to complete a dozen courses before he is confident enough in his skill or knowledge to pursue his passion. As he closes in on 60, Jeff said he loves the direction his life is heading today.
After writing the book, Jeff began work on a course called Escape to Excellence, which guides people even deeper into major themes of his book. He plans to launch a podcast soon to share interviews and insights with others.
If Jeff had to start over again, there is one thing he'd definitely do when launching his business, and that’s to get out of his own way much faster and stop worrying about whether something was good enough.
Anyone can become a teacher because each of us is an expert or very experienced in something that others are struggling to do or to understand. With the expansion of virtual and teaching platforms, Jeff said it is very easy to take any message to any audience eager to learn new things.
For example, if someone loved gardening, he or she could start a podcast and put together a tiny course to help people who have no idea where to begin in creating a garden.
I really enjoyed his closing advice when he said, “Whatever you are passionate about, if you've been doing it for a while, that makes you an expert. Go ahead and share what you know because there are many people just waiting for you to share your knowledge and skill with them. When you do, your joy becomes their joy, too.”
To connect with Jeff, visit www.jeffreyakramer.com. For help in overcoming perfectionism, visit www.perfectionparadoxbook.com.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next week, I’ll be interviewing a ground-breaking couple who are personally responsible for hundreds of thousands of people living out their travel dreams in an RV. Here’s a hint. They literally knew nothing about RVing when they started and still managed to amassed one of the largest online communities in the travel lifestyle within a few years. I know you’ll be inspired by their story. Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of The Passionate Purpose podcast.
Welcome to Episode 5 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way, in their own words.
Today, I will be speaking with a woman who absolutely loved to camp, but her husband wanted no part of it. That realization was devastating to Janine Pettit because, after raising four children, she envisioned being able to relax and travel with her husband. But, not only didn’t he like to camp, he really was happiest when staying at home.
One day, Janine read a newspaper article about women who liked to use tiny travel trailers to camp without their husbands. They would get together for a weekend of fun, then return to their lives. She started doing that as a hobby.
Janine soon realized that not all women were as fortunate as she was to have grown up camping and having been instructed by her father on how to attach a camper to a car, or how to set up a campsite upon arrival. In fact, she saw women making some very serious mistakes that could have resulted in their injury or even death.
So, Janine started writing a blog that offered tips just for women. It became so popular that she started writing for the RV Industry Association. Soon, she became the Martha Stewart of the camping world.
She founded an organization called Girl Camper to basically teach women how to camp like a girl, meaning she’d instruct them how to properly tow an RV, but also how to camp in style.
Janine is a super enthusiastic, creative idea generator with a heart for helping others. She’s a breath of fresh air in a society that is often divided in many ways. That’s why she has amassed a considerable following of women who joined the Girl Camper movement.
Janine and her fellow Girl Campers guide women as they step out of their comfort zones and attempt things they never thought they could do, like towing an RV by themselves. Once they achieve small successes, they are often ready to tackle more challenges. Their confidence grows with each subsequent success.
Girl Camper also helped women unload some painful baggage that have weighed down their spirits for many years. Over the warm glow of a campfire far from the distractions of life, Janine has witnessed a number of life-giving transformations that work to help women become better mothers, spouses, friends and stronger people in general.
Today, there are 30 Girl Camper chapters scattered across America and each one is planning regular activities for women in their areas. Janine also publishes a beautiful quarterly magazine that appeals to “glampers,” or people who love glamorous camping.
When trying to identify a passion, Janine encourages people to dwell on things they keep thinking about, but never act upon. She described that as their heart and soul sending them a message.
I really appreciated Janine’s advice to people of all ages when she said, “Your dream doesn’t have to be something that’s going to take over your life, and you don’t need to have every detail worked out in advance to begin. You just need to take that first step to move forward.”
You can connect with Janine at www.girlcamper.com or look for the Girl Camper group on Facebook.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next week, I’ll be interviewing a man who helps others break the bonds of perfectionism. He helps people get out of their own way and pursue things they’ve only dreamed of doing or spent many years planning, but failed to start because they mistakenly believed they needed everything to be perfect in order to begin. Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of The Passionate Purpose podcast.
Welcome to Episode 4 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way and in their own words.
Today, I will be speaking with a man I’ve known professionally since 2000. Al Hesselbart has done a lot of things in his life. He was a police officer, Boy Scout camp director, salesman, historian and museum manager. However, he was in his 70s before Al followed his heart to become a country music performer.
He enjoyed law enforcement, but his new wife was more than a little concerned about Al’s safety in a tumultuous 1960s that had seen multiple assassinations and riots.
Because Al had supported his way through college by working summers at a Boy Scout camp, when he ended his stint as a police officer, Al joined the Boy Scouts of America and ran their Michigan summer camps for the next 13 years. However, the recession of 1980 forced the Boy Scouts to downsize more than 1,200 staff members around the country, including Al.
He soon found himself unemployed with three children to care for. So, he tried selling imported automobiles. But, working nights and weekends caused a lot of stress in his marriage. Eventually, his wife left, leaving Al to raise their three children by himself.
A short time later, the dealership changed management and he found himself looking for work again. Al was 52 years old when he stumbled upon a job in Elkhart, Ind., working as a museum curator for the Recreation Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame. It was a job he held for two decades.
However, after retiring from that job in his 70s, that’s when Al’s life went in a rather unique direction when he became a country music performer playing at retirement communities in Florida.
Al is one of the most consistently jovial men I have ever met. He has a great sense of humor and he loves to tell stories. I could certainly relate to his desire to escape the cold weather in the Midwest to head to a warmer climate.
However, the most profound thing Al described during the interview was how many people move to Florida to retire and just wait to die. They pull in with their RV, back it into the site, plug it into power and water, but never come outside, he explained. “It's sad to watch,” he said. “they are people from all walks of life who live like hermits just waiting to die.”
Being a true people-person, Al was not content to stay home watching TV and simply looking forward to his next meal. So, he started attending music concerts where performers played his favorite songs. Soon, he attracted the attention of a band who invited him to perform with them.
He even learned how to play an acoustic guitar so he could strum a few notes while he was singing. Al said he enjoyed the living daylights out of playing acoustic music. And he noted it beats the heck out of sitting in his old motorhome playing solitaire all day.
Al also tapped into decades of research he had conducted about the recreation vehicle industry and used it to write two books.
I loved Al’s perspective when he said, "Don't put yourself in a box and say because I'm a carpenter, I am always going to be a carpenter because there is nothing else out there. Maybe it's a hobby or a job opportunity. But the two most enjoyable things I've done in my life are things I started after turning 50."
Al explained he could have just sat in the museum and dusted old books and RVs, or he could have learned something new by studying about the history of the RV and manufactured housing industries. Al didn’t want to be a has-been in anything. He had already lost many friends who were younger than he was.
He reminded people that life is a terminal disease, and they shouldn’t let it take them before they’re ready to go. That’s solid advice from the poster child for people with purpose after 70. You can connect with Al Hesselbart on Facebook.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next week, I’ll be interviewing a woman who has changed the lives of thousands of other women by simply encouraging them to go camping. In fact, she started an international movement to help women of all ages become Girl Campers. It will be an inspiring interview. Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of The Passionate Purpose podcast.
Welcome to Episode 3 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for men and women to tell their stories, their way in their own words.
Today I will be speaking with Michele Stanford, who works as a functional diagnostic nutritional practitioner helping people regain, restore and renew their health. Many people have become acutely aware of how fragile their bodies really are, especially after receiving a negative diagnosis or experiencing a medical setback.
Michele helps identify areas where a body is out of balance. Then she offers nutritional advice and uses other natural therapies to restore that natural balance.
Before turning 50, Michele worked as a paralegal for 16 years, and even taught high school English classes for a decade.
However, after working in an office or classroom for so long, Michele started experiencing her own health issues. Traditional doctors were unable to help because they truly didn’t have any idea what was wrong with her. They ran a battery of tests, all of which were inconclusive.
Eventually, trips to doctors’ offices centered around managing symptoms with no real attempt to zero in on root causes of her problems. In the end, doctors wound up making her problems even worse. So, she took ownership of her health and did her own research. Her goal was to not only find out what was really wrong, but to learn what she could do to fix the problem.
In the process, Michele discovered a lot of helpful information about America’s food supply, toxins in the environment and how they work to impact everyone’s health.
She compiled all her research into a book titled “Informed Consent: Critical Truths Essential to Your Health and to the Health of Future Generations.” The first half examines problems with foods people eat and the environment in which they live. The second half gives them hope for a better life.
Interviewing Michele Stanford was an eye-opening experience for me. Ironically, this interview took place last fall days before I experienced my second bout of COVID. Battling through those symptoms, I had renewed appreciation for the benefits of a balanced and healthy life.
I have struggled with my weight since I was a young boy wearing “husky” sized clothing. I never really grew up understanding the importance of eating certain foods and avoiding a lot of the garbage marketed as food today.
In 2017, I got tired of carrying all that weight and lost 70 pounds. That was a blessing in disguise because I had a mini-stroke the following summer. I’m convinced it would have been far more problematic if I had not lost all that weight.
But, silly me, by the time I spoke with Michele, I had put nearly 40 of those pounds back on. Michele caused me to re-evaluate my dietary choices, which involved a lot of processed foods and eating out. She reminded me that food was a provision, not a convenience.
I’ve been very slowly taking weight off again, but not with diet gimmicks. Rather I’m making sound decisions to eat nutrient-dense meals and exercise better portion control. Like Michele predicted, I feel significantly better mentally and physically.
Michele said more people than ever are embracing organic fruits, meats and vegetables and seeking to buy them from local farmers rather than corporate grocery stores.
After we turn 50, our metabolism starts slowing down, which is why it’s even harder for me to lose weight today than it was five years ago. Still, Michele explained there are some things people can do now to help reset their bodies for a healthier lifestyle, such as:
- Making sure you get plenty of healthy fats.
- Getting adequate clean and good protein.
- Eating nutrient-dense foods.
- Avoiding gluten and processed foods.
- Engage your body in some type of movement.
- Enjoy restful sleep.
Today, Michele is a passionate advocate for helping people choose healthier lifestyles, and she loves seeing their lives improve. She explained, “Some people thought they were destined to be sick all the time and they’d never get well. But, after going through some protocols I created for them, they see improvement and remain committed to making changes.”
To connect with Michele, visit www.michelestanford.com. People visiting her website can download a complementary PDF titled “Quick Guide to Balancing Your Hormones.”
Michele’s book, “Informed Consent: Critical Truths Essential to Your Health and to the Health of Future Generations,” is available at Amazon and other bookstores.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next week, I’ll have a fun interview with a super-enthusiastic man in his 70s who started a new career in his 50s, then retired and now enjoys a new life as a country performer at retirement communities in Florida. Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of The Passionate Purpose podcast.
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Passionate Purpose podcast where we interview people over 50 who are pursuing new direction for their lives. It’s an opportunity for people to tell their stories, their way in their own words.
Today’s episode features an interview with Jim Akers. He worked as a senior corporate executive for a major paper company in Washington State for 25 years where he oversaw 23 locations that employed 1,200 people.
After another outstanding year of growth and profitability, he was celebrating with his sales staff on Thursday afternoon, then called into the office and fired the following Monday. Without warning, the company was downsizing and changing strategies. Jim and all of the other group vice presidents were being eliminated.
He went from being on top of the world, to out of work – with one son still in law school and another in college.
The period that followed was one of intense personal reflection in which he sought advice from his closest friends who helped Jim realize that God had fired him from the job so he could pursue a different direction with his life. He also knew he had to get his spiritual grounding back.
Jim had published one book a few years before losing his job, which he later described as being very worldly based. After being fired, Jim invested more time in studying God’s word and meditating on its passages.
Soon, he felt called to write another book encouraging people to maximize their impact on others. Yet, God continued to sift and refine Jim. During his studies, he realized that of the 2,930 people mentioned by name in the Bible, there was enough data on 100 of them to know how they finished. A majority of them failed later in life.
That prompted Jim to write a third book titled “Godfidence: Reliable Confidence for Navigating an Unreliable World.” In the interview, he describes how the book project impacted his life and the lives of others who have read it.
Jim has a really compelling story with which a lot of people over the age of 50 can relate. They are chugging along almost on autopilot as they go from one event to the other. Then, something happens to derail their lives.
Perhaps it is a major illness, the death of a close friend or relative, or a job loss. Maybe everything they worked hard to achieve for so long suddenly disappeared through no fault of their own. They are forced into a transition they didn’t ask to make.
Like Jim noted, when that happens, we have a choice on how to respond. We can sulk, withdraw into our little comfort zones and blame God and everyone else for our predicament. Or we can pivot and realize that as long as we’re still breathing, there is a purpose for our lives.
Rather than looking within ourselves or to others for answers to our questions, we need to turn to our creator to discover the purpose he has for our lives going forward. There is a reason we have the skills, talent and abilities we do. There is a reason why we have had experiences that are unique to our lives – both good and bad. All of it makes us uniquely qualified to do something to make a difference in the world and the lives of others.
After turning 50, life is no longer a game to see what we can get for ourselves. Rather, life becomes a mission devoted to what we can give to others. It’s not complicated because it doesn’t really require a lot of effort to mentor someone else who is facing a similar struggle you did at some point in your life. For people struggling with a sense of purpose, the magic of mentoring can be an easy solution.
In the interview, Jim encouraged listeners to “Ask yourself if I took all my life experience, both good and bad, and poured that into one person, like a single mother or a young athlete, could it be a life-changing experience for both of us.”
We often think impact has to be grandiose, but God often wants us to impact just one life at a time. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself which people had the most positive impact on our own life. Chances are it was probably someone who just provided a little extra time and attention.
Today, Jim selects five people to provide one-on-one coaching services every year. He works with people to strengthen their businesses, but more importantly, to develop their faith.
For anyone wanting to find and pursue their God-given purpose, Jim offered some advice. “When you get up in the morning, simply ask God, 'What's my next best right step that would bring you glory today?' Then get busy doing that,” Jim explained. “Also, look for ways to serve others without thinking about what you can get in return. Even if it's the humblest of circumstances, figure out a place to serve.
“Finally, identify who you want to remember you and what you want to be remembered for,” Jim said. “People will remember us more for things we did near the end of our lives than they will for what we did when we were younger. Answer those questions, and your purpose will produce itself.”
To connect with Jim, visit www.jimdakers.com.
If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
That’s all for this week’s show. Next week, I’ll be talking to a woman who faced a serious medical challenge in her life that baffled doctors. It caused her to do some research on her own to find answers. Today, she helps others to live longer through a healthy diet and better lifestyle choices. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast. Thank you for listening!
In the debut episode of the Passionate Purpose podcast, host Greg Gerber, who founded Forward From 50, outlines his vision for the show and describes what listeners can expect.
Passionate Purpose will be a weekly podcast that comes out every Wednesday afternoon. The episodes will usually feature interviews with men and women over the age of 50 who are passionately pursuing a specific purpose for the second half of their lives.
Occasionally, Greg will record an episode by himself, especially if he has a message that can help people identify a purpose for their lives and take steps to pursue it. The people he will be talking to will come from all walks of life from corporate executives to stay-at-home moms.
Some might have jobs, while others run businesses and still others utilize their skills, talent and abilities in a volunteer endeavor. What they all have in common is that they reached a point in their lives where they were looking for more.
Perhaps they were stuck in a job they didn’t like, or were basically pushed out of careers they loved long before they were ready to leave. They may have been contemplating an idea for many years and finally took that essential first step of faith. In some instances, fate just stepped in and directed them to a new opportunity.
Greg shares his own story about what transpired in his live over that helped him come up with the idea for Forward From 50. He also outlines what the platform can do for listeners and people who visit the website.
A resident of Sun City, Ariz., Greg describes how too many people plan to retire, kick back and engage in one recreational activity after another. However, after a few months, many retirees are bored out of their minds.
The internet is full of websites promoting things people can do to achieve greater longevity, such as follow a nutritious diet, don’t smoke, moderate their drinking, maintain a healthy weight, control their stress and get plenty of sleep. But, they are all missing the key point – the need for a purpose.
Without a sense of purpose, Greg believes the reason so many men die so early is because they want to. They can’t imagine living one more day without the ability to make an impact on people and the world around them.
The need for purpose is obvious and that’s why Greg started Forward From 50 -- to help men and women over the age of 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are truly passionate about. The Forward From 50 website and platform features:
- Inspirational stories about what we like to call go-getters, people over 50 who stepped out to do something completely different than what they did before turning 50.
- Insightful articles to help give people new ideas and help them enjoy a more purposeful, joyful and spiritually-abundant life.
- An online community of enthusiastic dreamers already pursuing a new direction for their lives
- Virtual courses to help people change their mindset or get started on a new venture.
- One-on-one or small-group coaching to brainstorm ideas or a path to take
- Finally, this podcast where people tell their stories their own way in their own words
The ultimate reason for purpose is to create a legacy, or how you want people to remember you when you’re gone. Yet, our purpose often changes as the seasons of our lives change. For example:
- Pre-30s – Our purpose is to gain skills, begin forming a network, start working and start a family
- During the 30s-50s – The chaos years – Our purpose is to gain experience, raise kids, fine-tune our talent, and learn new skills often to benefit ourselves.
- During our post-50s, that’s when our true purpose guides us to our destiny – the reason we were born and bestowed with specific skills, talents and life experiences to benefit others.
A genuine, life-changing purpose always benefits others to some degree.
Greg closes the show with a quote from playwright Gertrude Nelson Andrews, who said, “There is no reason why a person shouldn’t be young at eighty, but there are a whole lot of people who die at fifty and aren’t buried until they are eighty. We have a right to be useful and creative if we live to be 100. A man at eighty should be a masterpiece, not something to be thrown on the dump heap.”
Thanks for listening to Episode 1 of the Passionate Purpose Podcast. For more information, visit www.forwardfrom50.com.