Reinvention at Any Age
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
By Laura Vendeland Doman
I’m a Corporate turned Creative. A recovering cubicle-dweller who reinvented and re-packaged herself to pursue her childhood dream as an actor. Starting in my late 50s, no less!
And I’m far from alone. More women than ever are realizing that midlife isn’t an ending. It’s a creative opening.
The best part of starting later in life? Three reasons:
1. No one is going to ask me to be naked.
In ten years, no one has — and I certainly hope no one ever will! That pressure disproportionately lands on young women. Starting later gave me a very different, very sane on-ramp. Highly recommend.
2. Once you go through menopause, you worry less what people think.
Sure, you still care, but not like you used to. You’re freer to be yourself — and that’s the key to becoming an actor people actually want to watch. Turns out authenticity ages beautifully.
3. You have years of real life experience to draw on.
The good times. The job obstacles. Loss of friends or loved ones. The ups and downs that forge your character. And skills that translate beautifully to on-camera work. Need to portray the overworked financial manager worried if her kid made it home yet? Or an emergency room nurse tending to an injured, hysterical patient? You get it. You’ve actually been there.
Working in film, TV, corporate industrials, and print has been that childhood dream come true. Though there is a downside: constant rejection — and often not even knowing if auditions are ever watched. The fully subjective and sometimes whimsical nature of the business means you have little control beyond deciding to do your very best work.
You learn quickly to develop a thick skin and a thin attachment to outcomes.
And once cast, your time is theirs. You work on their schedule. Not yours.
I’m often asked how you make a switch this drastic: from corporate IT sales to entertainment.
First, by checking your ego at the door. Preferably leaving it in the hallway.
Ever hear of “beginner mind?” While you bring valuable skills and experience, you must also be open-minded and willing to take risks — and even fail — while you learn.
I didn’t start with confidence. I started with curiosity and a willingness to be bad at something new.
This is true of any career change. Ask yourself:
1. What are my intrinsic skills, and how do I want to use them?
For me, that was communications and organization. I wanted to be my own boss and explore the creative self that had been carefully contained within the confines of the corporate world.
2. Where can I apply my skills? And how do I get started?
Be realistic about your prospects. If you’re not qualified yet, find out what’s required.
I found acting classes at reputable local drama schools and began working in student film productions that offered experience and cold pizza lunches. (So. Much. Cold. Pizza.)
Eventually, I built my résumé, found an agent, and was able to work exclusively on professional film sets.
Expect an outlay of time and money — investment in training and/or equipment — to prepare for a new career. Ideally, you’ll have encouragement from loved ones and enough savings to rely on until you deposit that first paycheck.
3. Do I have the mindset to see it through?
We’re talking about a positive attitude, with a clear vision for the future. Set realistic goals each year, with clearly defined steps along the way.
It is possible to reinvent your career at any age.
Now, ten years later, I’m also a successful voice actor, public speaker, and media trainer, helping business leaders master the camera for videos and online events.
And I’m having the time of my life.
You can, too. Reinvention has no expiration date.
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