News reports are fairly consistent in reporting that one of the demographic groups hit hardest by the economic crisis are women in their 50s and 60s. If you are among the group of women in this age group who have lost your previous job, you might want to read a very insightful article in Forbes.  The article by Judith H. Dobrzynski is entitled “Why Older Women Are Going Back to Work.” (www.forbes.com/2010/03/16/retirement-age-job-search-forbes-woman-net- worth-changing-careers_2.html)

Many women who are being laid off from executive management/leadership positions are losing both the job and a very good salary. Most of these women are not ready to retire. Some choose to continue to work because they want to work. Others will continue to work because they need the salary. But most of the women in this group are finding it necessary to make some major adjustments in expectations and working roles.

The article concludes, “We are at a point where we still want to work, but we want something different, like an ‘encore’ career,” she says. “I want to work and need to work, but I know myself better now. And now that my children are grown, I can look around and figure out what I really want to do.”

If you do not know what you want to do next – the nature of your encore career – or how to adapt to the loss of authority or power or control, or even how to cope with the need to make significant life changes to prepare for whatever is next, I encourage you to attend one of my seminars or the Dream Big, Live Big Event (www.DreamBigLiveBigEvent.com) in May. Even better, call me or send me an e-mail. I can help you discover what’s next in your life and embrace the future with hope and confidence.

Are you ready to start your encore career? Tell me here.