The global pandemic has awakened people of all ages to just how fragile and finite life can be. This reality likely disproportionately impacted midlife individuals. Because, midlife is a pivotal time to assess career goals, relationships, and lifestyles, to challenge ideals set earlier in life.
“So many people I’ve talked to have no idea where they are going or want to go once they hit their mid-forties,” shares Michael Clinton, author of the book, ROAR into the Second Half of Your Life - Before It’s Too Late.
These past few years, often called “The Great Pause,” has made us ask:
- What is important in my life?
- Am I on a path that is satisfying?
- Do I have a lot of unlived moments that cause me regrets?
- Do I have a clear view of my future and what I truly want?
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, it’s time to ROAR proclaims Michael. ROAR is his new concept that is simple, understandable and can be followed by anyone willing to follow the ROAR principles:
Reimagine yourself
Own who you are
Act on what’s next
Reassess your relationships to get you there
“To ROAR is to contradict and challenge all of what you thought about getting older, to have the imagination, the self-awareness, and the self-confidence to start anew,” explains Michael. “It doesn’t matter where you come from or what your life has been like up until this point, with courageous thinking and a bold vision, you can source unlimited opportunities,” he adds.
In his book, Michael demonstrates the ROAR principles through his own examples, along with tips, resources and true stories from over forty people who didn’t let their age or other setbacks stop them.
Read this wise, instructive and insightful, must-have playbook. This guide for making the second half of your life the best it can be is incredibly timely.
Recently, Michael shared these additional insights with us:
Question: Had the pandemic not caused "The Great Pause," what percentage of people do you believe would not have engaged in the self-reflection you mention in the book?
Michael: The phenomena of so many people reflecting on their second half was already happening, The Great Pause only added fuel to it...amplifying the sense of urgency to address it. Like many things brought on by the pandemic, it put a sharper focus on the need for a plan!
Question: Life layering is intriguing. Why is it so important within the realm of ROAR?
Michael: When you add the life layering concept into your life, I like to say that it builds a big, delicious cake that represents the richness of a life well created. The key is to always cultivate an established layer, then add another one and cultivate both of them and a third one and cultivate all three of them. You'll find that you will create a constant state of the ROAR concept...always reimagining, owning your new pursuits, acting on them with a plan and reassessing the world around you to get those new layers in place.
Question: How do you recommend readers in each of these three age groups engage most effectively with the book – readers in their 30's, 40's and 60's?
Michael: For those in their 30's, they get a great head start on what a reimagined life might look like for them. They get to hear the wisdom of the 40 people interviewed who have already made major changes in their lives.
For those in their 40's, they are at the point where they are ready to act on a new plan, whether it is career, lifestyle or personal. They are at the cusp of the second half.
For those in their 60's, they will be inspired that it is never too late. The inspiration of ROAR is that fighting self-imposed ageism is the path to take. At 60, you can start a new career that will last for 20 years, launch a business, create a new lifestyle or relationship. If you are 60 and healthy, you may live another 30 years! That's a lot of living with great potential.
Michael Clinton is the former President and Publishing Director of Hearst Magazines and is currently the special media advisor to the CEO of the Hearst Corporation. He is also a writer and photographer who has traveled to over 120 countries and has run marathons on seven continents. He has appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Town and Country, O, the Oprah Magazine and other national media. Clinton is the Founder of Circle of Generosity, a nonprofit that grants random acts of kindness to those in need and serves on multiple nonprofit boards.
You can follow Michael at @maclinton on Twitter and @macglobetrotter on Instagram.
Thank you to the book’s publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.
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