Encore Career Series
There are millions of adults in mid-life who are refusing to fade away in the second half of life. It turns out that at least 41 million of those adults are searching for a calling and crafting encore careers that combine not only continued income but the promise for more meaning and purpose. These individuals have found and are living their encore all over America. The power of their stories can help provide us lessons, tips and inspirations as we begin to ponder what is next for us in the second half.
We are thrilled to be able to bring those stories to life at our Encore Town Hall event on October 21!. We have found so many great examples of people in our own community who have left their life long job or role to do something that has real meaning and purpose for them. During our Town Hall, we will have two of those individuals share their story with Marci Alboher (author of the Encore Career Handbook).
I would like to give you sneak preview of those two individuals who will be sharing their stories at the Encore Town Hall.
Major Earl Bedford
Major Earl Bedford enlisted in the service in 1982. He served four different combat tours in Iraq. During those years of service he received numerous awards for his courage, leadership and service to his country. Those years in Iraq were extremely challenging. He suffered physically, mentally and emotionally. The physical wounds eventually healed but the psychological wounds lingered on way past his time in Irag. Back in Tampa he looked for support and found that most of the military support attended to the physical wounds and transition issues. He decided to take matters into his own hands by reaching out to fellow service men who had suffered from PTSD and suicidal thoughts. He set up times to mentor and just hang out with those who were still suffering inside. His incredible compassion and courage has been an inspiration to so many other servicemen at McDill AFB. His success with these meetings, resulted in starting his own non profit- “Military Warriors Mentorship Program”.
Earl’s passion goes beyond helping the wounded who served our country. Since his return home to Tampa he has been actively involved with another great initiative that his father (who was in the service as well) started – “Operations Santa Claus”. This is a great program that helps provides gifts and time spent with the kids whose dads are still out in the field serving their country.
Susan Jacobs
Susan Jacobs had a very different encore journey. In the early 1990’s she walked away from an abusive relationship leaving everything behind for a chance to start over. For three months , she was without a car and found that her lack of transit options took her over two hours each way to get to work. It was during those 3 months that she met a stranger that changed her life forever, by lending her a car until she got back on her feet with a better job running a staffing agency.
Susan realized that the lack of transportation has impacted so many individuals and families from getting or keeping a job. Seeing those family situations really hit home for her. She found there were not any programs or services that addressed this issue and started her own program to provide used cars for families that needed transportation help to get back on their feet.
Wheels of Success has presented over 732 cars and provided another 699 car related services to keep working families working. Susan was recognized for her tremendous effort and impact on our community in 2012 as the National Encore- Purpose Prize finalist. She has also been featured on the Queen Latifah Show sharing her story with the whole world!
Encore Careers
Both stories illustrate that each individual was faced with extremely challenging situations. They made it through their challenges and dedicated their lives to help others who faced those same kind of challenges. They also used their skills and experience from previous jobs and roles to help set up their organization .
YOU will get to meet Major Bedford and Susan Jacobs at our Encore Town Hall event. Over the next four weeks leading up to the Encore Town Hall, we will be showcasing other individuals in our community who are living their encore. Stay tuned!