April 8, 2024 • 32 mins
There comes a moment when the safety net of a steady job no longer serves the soaring ambitions of our spirit. That's precisely what I faced before embarking on the entrepreneurial journey that has led me here, sharing my story with you. This episode is a tribute to those transformative crossroads in life. I'm joined by Shannon Russell, a former TV producer turned career transition coach, who echoes my sentiments as we dive into the transitions that redefine our personal and professional lives. Together, we uncover the courage it takes to leap into the unknown and the joy that awaits when you dare to chase what truly ignites your passion.
Facing midlife with a yearning for more can be as daunting as it is exhilarating. In our candid conversation, Shannon and I peel back the layers of what it takes to shift gears from a successful career to one that's aligned with our evolving dreams. We talk about the pandemic's role in prompting self-reflection and the unique hurdles and breakthroughs that come with setting new life goals for women in midlife. It's not just about finding a new job; it's about curating a life that's filled with happiness and meaning, and we're here to show you that it's never too late to ask yourself what truly makes you happy.
Wrapping up our heart-to-heart, we turn the spotlight on the inspiring tales of women who've written books and started coaching enterprises – all in the prime of their lives. We tackle the fears of failure and the societal whispers that might attempt to dissuade, yet we stand firm on the importance of finding joy at any stage. Shannon's Second Act Success coaching is a testament to the power of support and resources available to anyone ready for their own second act. Our discussion is not just an episode; it's an invitation to step into a world where your career and passions align, filled with the promise of a fulfilling new chapter.
You find Shannon Russell and Second Act Success at:
https://www.instagram.com/secondactsuccess/
https://secondactsuccess.co/
I'd love to work with you! Let me help you reach your health and fitness goals.
https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/?aid=MicheleFolan
Have questions about Faster Way? Feel free to reach out.
mfolanfasterway@gmail.com
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This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Michele Folan (00:01):
I recorded this episode of the podcast back in
December but held on to it forsome reason, and now I know why.
Here's the story.
I have held a job steadilysince I was 18 years old and if
you do the math that is 42 yearsbut for those 10 months during
(00:22):
COVID.
I've had the itch for a whileto strike out on my own to give
entrepreneurship a whirl.
And when I broached this topicwith fellow podcaster and my
good friend Rochelle Conde Nau,she said something that stopped
me in my tracks.
Rochelle said, Michelle, it'snever too late, but late is
(00:43):
coming.
And I knew my 60th birthday wasjust around the corner and I
also realized that fearingfailure and giving up some of my
financial security was holdingme back from pulling the trigger
on going after my dream andfulfilling a passion.
I needed to start following myown advice.
Staying stuck because you fearchange is the scariest
(01:08):
proposition of all.
I read a quote recently and itwent something like this when it
feels scary to jump, that'sexactly when you jump.
Otherwise, you end up stayingin the same place your whole
life.
So on February 29th, four daysshy of my 60th birthday, I
(01:30):
resigned from a position asdirector of inside sales, a job
I really liked and a place I'vecalled home for the last three
years three years but it wastime, as a stronger force was
calling me, to do something elsewhere I can help midlife women
(01:50):
realize their potential to betheir best and focus on making
these amazing years theirhealthiest.
Yet I will continue to do thepodcast, so stay tuned Certainly
more to come on this and thankyou for being here.
Now on to the episode.
Health, wellness, fitnessrelationships and everything in
(02:17):
between.
We're removing the taboo fromwhat really matters in midlife.
I'm your host, Michele Folan,and this is Asking for a Friend
when measuring what a great lifelooks like.
Does the one you're livingmatch your dreams?
Many of us are looking at thisamazing phase of life and
(02:40):
assessing how we want to reframethis chapter.
Maybe it's your career, arelationship, pursuing a passion
or a fitness journey?
Do you need a little push tofeel empowered to make your move
?
Shannon Russell took her ownlife pivot from being a
successful TV producer to acertified career transition
(03:02):
coach to help women prepare andproduce their best life.
Shannon is also the host of theSecond Act Success podcast and
a creator of companion coachingprograms and online courses.
Welcome to Asking for a Friend,Shannon Russell.
Thank you, Michele.
It's nice to meet you and againhow these things work out.
(03:25):
We got introduced by a guynamed Adam who does the
podcasting coaching school orbusiness school, all right and
he thought we would be a greatpair to do a podcast together
and I'm always so appreciativeof that.
Do a podcast together, and I'malways so appreciative of that.
(03:47):
I would love for you to kind offill in the gaps a little bit
here in regard to yourbackground, your family and
school and also your career pathdetails.
Sure.
Shannon Russell (03:55):
So I was a communications major and right
out of college I went to NewYork City and I got my dream job
, working at MTV.
That was what I wanted, since Iwas much younger when I first
discovered it.
I was very into music andtelevision and it just seemed
like a perfect match.
And I worked there for amajority of my television career
(04:19):
, worked in New York City andthen moved to Los Angeles and
continued to work with MTV andthen also worked in reality and
I worked for E Entertainment anddigital, with Yahoo and other
big, big companies, yeah, andproduced for about 16 or so
years.
It was just such a dream.
And then I became a mom andthen things start shifting a
(04:41):
little bit and that's where Ikind of decided OK, I think I
need to put the brakes on thiscareer, that I love to really be
able to be present with my kids.
Michele Folan (04:53):
And did you move back from LA back to New Jersey
at that
We actually did.
I suffered from a littlepostpartum depression right
after having my first son, andwithin six months of having him
in our lives, we moved from LosAngeles back to the East Coast.
My family and I grew up in NewJersey, and so I just needed
(05:15):
that family around, and so myhusband is a television producer
as well, and so we both werecommuting into Manhattan.
I went back to my roots at MTVonce again.
He got a job, so we were doingthat commute and had family
around us, and we're still heretoday on the East Coast.
So you told me too.
They're like kind of betweendoing what you're doing now with
(05:35):
the podcast you started afranchise.
Shannon Russell (05:39):
I did so I had my first son and then, three
years later, I had my second sonand at that time I was still
commuting to Manhattan andactually it was when I was
pregnant with my second littleguy.
I had this aha moment of Ican't be doing this anymore.
It was just the stress oftrying to.
I had basically an hour and ahalf or two hour commute from
(05:59):
New York and it was trying toget on the bus or the subway and
the bus and get back, you know,to pick up one from daycare,
and I was pregnant, and so whenI had my little guy, I said you
know what?
I think I need to figure outsomething else.
And that was where I reallyreally struggled because, as I
mentioned, television waseverything I had ever wanted to
(06:21):
do and I had to do a lot of soulsearching and kind of reframing
to sort of think of it as I'mnot giving up on this career,
I'm checking the box.
I had done everything that Iwanted to do and I looked at
those people that were above meand I didn't want that job.
I wanted to be a mom.
(06:42):
And so I said, okay, great, Iwas able to accomplish this
dream.
That not a lot of people evenget to accomplish.
So I checked that box and Istarted thinking, well, how can
I move from television intosomething else that's closer to
home?
And that's when I startedreally doing a lot of soul
searching.
I always say I've made a lot ofwrong decisions.
(07:04):
I took a nine to five local job.
I went back to graduate schoolthinking I wanted to be a
teacher and I would get mymaster's.
So I was really just trying tofigure it out and it was a
lonely time of really justfiguring it out.
And so one day, looking at mythen three or maybe four year
old at the time, he was buildingwith Legos and I just had this
(07:24):
idea of, like, I want to diveinto STEM education and really
learning more about that.
And I came across a franchisecalled Snapology and I ended up
just taking a huge leap of faith.
I bought into the franchise,opened this business and
basically we teach children Legobuilding and robotics and how
(07:46):
to think like an engineer, andit's very education based.
And so, yeah, I opened that in2016.
And now I still own it almost.
You know, it's been about sevenand a half years.
Oh, wow, that was really atransition into being able to be
that more present mom that Iwanted to be and use my
(08:07):
managerial, my executive kind ofrunning a business, running a
production, and I transfer thatinto running a business.
Michele Folan (08:14):
A few things here I want to comment.
First of all, very brave of youto admit that being a mom was
what you wanted your priority tobe.
So, kudos, because that is areally hard decision to make
when you've worked so hard inyour career all those years.
So I love that.
(08:34):
But you had a lot of pivotsthrough all this, so this was
not one of those things whereyou decided one day this is what
you're going to do and you didit.
You tried a few things in thereto try to see what it felt most
comfortable, and this franchisesounds like it really spoke to
you.
Shannon Russell (08:50):
Yeah, it did and I, like I didn't jump into
it I mean it was a leap of faithbut I did my research, I spoke
to many other franchisees and Ifelt that I could use all that
experience in running theselarge scale productions in
entertainment on a much smallerscale and running my own
business.
And it was scary.
(09:11):
But I started to see, as Istarted to grow the business and
figure it out, that I reallydid have the experience and I
had the skills that transitionedover to a different career path
and that was a really a greatlesson to learn that I now am
able to teach others, because Ithink so many times we feel like
we're pigeonholed in what wedecide to do when we're 22 and
(09:34):
we're leaving college.
And for me, it was really agreat learning experience to
learn that I can do this reallyscary other thing and I can do
it well.
And yeah, so it was.
And it was one of those thingswhere I could do it from home.
I could go out during the daywhile my kids were in school and
then I could be there to pickthem up, and so it was really
(09:54):
that perfect combination ofbeing that mom and still really
owning a business and beingsuccessful at it.
Michele Folan (10:00):
And then, when did you decide to start coaching
and start a podcast?
Because I always laugh whenpeople are like, yeah, I decided
to do a podcast.
Like, what in God's name wouldlike make you want to start a
podcast?
That's, you know, the questionI get sometimes.
Shannon Russell (10:16):
Oh, yes, me too.
And what's funny is I would getthese questions in running my
other franchise business thatpeople would say, oh, you're
such a great teacher, because Iwould teach a lot of the classes
for the first few years I wouldbe teaching kids and out at
schools and people would say, oh, what grade did you teach prior
to this?
And I would say, actually, I'ma television producer.
And I would get these reactionsand then I would get well, can
(10:40):
you teach me how to do that?
I don't want to do the commuteanymore, or I want to switch to
something else, because 15, 20years in this dream of mine,
this role that I started,doesn't fit my life now.
And so I started just helpingfriends or even customers of
mine.
Okay, well, why don't you trythis?
Or, you know, read this book,or this is what I did, or I
(11:02):
would just kind of be counselingthem kind of on what they could
do to make their transitions.
And then it just hit me one dayI was talking with a friend who
was really struggling.
She was having this really longcommute and she was so unhappy,
crying every night, and it hitme that I had no one to help me
when I was transitioning into anew career and that maybe I
(11:23):
really could help others, and soI sat on it for a little while.
I started writing a book.
I was just thinking of how Ican reach more people and the
podcast came to mind, and so Iinitially began the business as
a podcast and interviewing otherpeople about how they left
their first job and started asecond act, and then from there,
(11:43):
I really started just coachingpeople and educating myself more
on different ways and yeah, sonow it's a podcast and I'm a
career coach, so it's been sofulfilling.
Michele Folan (11:54):
Yeah, and this is not about me, but I'm going to
make this about me just for asecond here, please do.
It took me losing my job beforethe pandemic, like six weeks
before shutdown.
Shannon Russell (12:07):
Oh.
Michele Folan (12:08):
And being 56 years old, you know, in the
middle of a global pandemic,just really reassess what was
important to me in regard to mycareer, and that's when I
decided to do a podcast.
So sometimes we have to beforced into making those
(12:29):
decisions, but just to be ableto have that time to be able to
really think about it was superimportant for me.
And one thing I do want to sayto you is that for midlife women
, you know we're not justtalking about careers here.
It's not just about finding acareer you love.
(12:52):
Sometimes, it's just aboutfinding the life you love.
And so what are some of thecommon themes that you hear,
particularly with midlife women?
Shannon Russell (13:02):
Well, Michelle , I want to comment on what you
said too is that I think thepandemic forced you to really
take that time and think aboutwhat it is that you want.
And so often we are just busyworking and running a family and
doing all the things that wenever ask ourselves are we happy
and what do we want?
So the pandemic gave that toyou.
And so often I hear that fromclients and from guests on my
(13:26):
podcast that they're just so init that how dare they take that
chance to switch things up, howdare they like who are they to
want to wreak havoc in thestatus quo of their lives?
And that's the biggest thing Ihear is that you know I'm
unhappy, but everything's goingokay with my family.
I'm just going to, you know,keep coasting along.
(13:48):
I often say, well, you can, andthat's fine and everything might
work out.
Or you can just start slowlythinking about what it is that
you might want to do, just likeon a whim.
Just think about it, write itdown, journal about it, allow
yourself to think about it, andyou don't have to make any moves
.
But then you can start thinking, well, what would it look like
(14:09):
if I did do that, if I did takeone step, because it's a lot of
times we just don't listen toourselves and take that time.
Michele Folan (14:16):
Well, there's the whole paradigm shift of always
putting everybody's needs aheadof our own and making that
uncomfortable move of saying I'mgoing to prioritize myself
right now and make myself happyor figure out what it is that
(14:37):
will truly make me feelfulfilled.
I guess my question would bethen if you know you have this
midlife itch but we're havingdifficulty figuring out what
that is, how do you dig intosomeone's passions?
How do you get them to pullthat out?
Shannon Russell (14:56):
I like to just ask the questions about
childhood even, like what didyou want to do when you were
younger, and does that still, atsome point in you, or a little
part of you, still want to dothat?
Maybe it's not still want to bethat ballerina that we want it
to be, or something like that,but are you more interested in
being creative?
And if it's creativity, couldyou write a blog, could you
(15:19):
start writing a book in yourspare time?
Or, you know, maybe you startedoff with one major in college
and then you switch, forwhatever reason.
Is there still an interest thatlies there?
So you can start thinking aboutyour past, because I think our
past really does lead us to ourfuture and where we should be.
And then really, I like tothink about the threads that
(15:40):
kind of thread us through ourlives.
So I talk a lot about nowproducing your best life, and
that's what I did.
I produced these big projectsand now I help people produce a
life that makes them happier, orI produce my podcast.
So there's little threads thatgo through and a lot of times
when you think about thosethreads and even where you are
(16:01):
now, even if you're unhappy,well, maybe there's some way of
going above and beyond where Iam now to bring in some of those
aspects of my life that I dolove, and in a way that doesn't
disrupt everything.
So just to start to dabble inthat.
Michele Folan (16:23):
So I'm thinking about someone that I know in
particular, who I'll say shegets a bad case of the Sunday,
scaries, dreads Monday and herjob's super stressful.
She isn't fulfilled but shefeels stuck in her situation.
Hers is financial, but what ifyou're in a family business and
(16:43):
you're beholden to the familybusiness?
Do you ever help clients, tryto find peace where they are?
Shannon Russell (16:51):
I do and I think you can find peace where
you are.
There's definitely clients ofmine and even friends of mine
who, like you said, are can findpeace where you are.
There's definitely clients ofmine and even friends of mine
who, like you said, are beholdento where they are and there's
not really a way of breakingcompletely free from that.
But it's finding a way to findyourself in the midst of that
day-to-day stress and it mightbe silly, but I love Christmas.
(17:13):
I'm like a big ChristmasHallmark movie kind of person
and there was this thing thatthis is just something that
popped in.
But there was something thatpopped up on my Facebook feed
about going to this onlinevirtual workshop to learn how to
write a Christmas movie.
It has absolutely nothing to dowith anything that I do on a
daily basis for either of mybusinesses, but I said you know
(17:34):
what I want to do it and Isigned up and I did it and I
cannot stop talking about it,clearly if I'm talking about it
with you but it was somethingthat just gave me joy and gave
me an hour or so.
It was only a couple of nightsduring one week, but it gave me
that time for myself away fromthe kids, away from work, where
I could focus on something elsethat just brought me pure joy
(17:55):
and there was no stress orexpectations to it.
So if we can find those littlethings that pop up that seem
like something that would bringus that joy because you never
know where that can lead so Ijust urge everyone to think
about that in the midst of yourstressful day, maybe it's just
going for an extra long walk byyourself with a good podcast in
(18:18):
your ear, or writing, or pickingup an instrument, or baking.
Just those little things thatkind of bring you those peace
and make your weeks not asstressful, because you feel like
you have something that's apart of you.
Michele Folan (18:32):
Yeah, I like that idea.
And what a fun class to take.
Shannon Russell (18:35):
Oh my gosh and Michelle.
I'm like writing in my sparetime now, just writing these
fictional stories, and I meanit's just.
I find that that is a nicelittle stress relief that I
didn't know I needed.
So I feel like at any time wecan come up with something that
can give us that little escape.
Michele Folan (18:54):
Doing this podcast has been very
enlightening for me, because I'mfinding women in midlife are
man, they got balls.
They're doing some reallyincredible things writing books
like you, starting coachingbusiness.
I say this all the time thatyou don't have to write a book,
(19:15):
you don't have to start acoaching business, but finding
that little thing that lightsyou up and adds some fun to your
life.
Some women are still evenuncomfortable doing that because
they don't want to be seen assilly or they still fear failure
in some degree, and so that'ssomething that I bet you have to
(19:39):
work through with people aswell, right?
Shannon Russell (19:41):
Yeah, absolutely, and with myself as
well, because, you're right, weall have that imposter syndrome,
or I just think it's at thisage in midlife that we kind of
maybe care about what otherpeople think just a little bit
less, and we do prioritize oursanity, if you will, because if
you are so stressed all day, itcomes back to your work, it
(20:02):
shows in your work, it showswith your family, it shows with
your friends.
So just to say, it doesn'tmatter if I want to spend all
Sunday reorganizing the closets,because it's me and my alone
time and that's what I enjoy todo, then you can do it.
But yeah, it's just findingthat little thing.
It can be something so sillyand embrace the silliness, right
Like we only live once.
Michele Folan (20:23):
Yeah, I think it's kind of a part of self-care
, honestly, yeah.
Shannon Russell (20:28):
Absolutely.
Michele Folan (20:29):
Do you ever work with a client and discover that
maybe it's really a relationshipthat's in need of some
attention or change, and maybenot necessarily the career or
the that little somethingoutside of their career?
I do.
Shannon Russell (20:49):
And and it's funny, I find that something I
struggle with as a coach is Ibecome almost friends with my
clients, like too friendly, andthat they start telling me about
their personal relationshipsand different things that are
going on in their lives, whichis wonderful because I want them
to feel that level of comfort.
But we do start talking aboutthat sometimes in how I have had
(21:13):
clients say that their spouseor their partner does not
approve of maybe their businessventure that they're taking or
the fact that they are thinkingabout this change and they're
looking at different careeroptions outside of their current
industry.
And you know I'm not atherapist by any means, but it's
saying, okay, well, you canrespect what that partner, what
(21:34):
that person in your relationshipsays and how they feel.
But at the end of the day youcan only make yourself happy and
that's why I talk about babysteps and not just saying I'm
quitting today and the JerryMcGuire of it all and just
walking out and having itdisrupt your whole family.
But you can do little babysteps to learn about yourself
and learn about that potentialcareer path or life change and
(21:59):
just dabble in it and see how itwill have a ripple effect or
not have a ripple effect oneveryone else, because, yeah,
you want your relationships tostay healthy and strong, but you
also want to make sure thatyou're happy.
So, yeah, that comes up quiteoften.
I think again to bring it backto the fact that we are in
midlife and we know what we wantat this point, and we are a lot
(22:19):
I think we speak our voices andmake our moves in a way that we
wouldn't have done in our 20s.
Michele Folan (22:25):
I think we're getting better about that, and I
saw this on your Instagram.
I think it said something aboutputting others first oftentimes
means burying beneath otherpeople's needs.
I think, again, it's a paradigmit's hard to shift out of, and
then some of those are also theexpectations that people have of
(22:48):
us as being a breadwinner andthat sort of thing.
It makes them uncomfortable,thinking okay, they're able to
change, they're able to graspthis new thing in their life,
and it can make the peoplearound us feel unsettled.
Shannon Russell (23:05):
I think at times, oh yeah, I struggle that
with my husband.
It feels that way often with meand all the changes that I've
made in these last eight yearsor so and he admits it sometimes
that it's you know, he's stillin the same career path and I've
made in these last eight yearsor so and he admits it sometimes
that it's you know he's stillin the same career path and I've
done all these other things andbut it's still it's.
Everyone has their own path, soit's not changing.
(23:26):
I'm still bringing in money tothe family, I'm contributing,
I'm doing all the things and Ialways say you can change at any
time.
I tell my kids we're just.
We were having this conversationwith my father, who's retired,
about that.
My kids asked him to startwriting a book about golden
retrievers and he said, oh, okay, I'll look into it.
And they're like no, you can dothis, you can write it.
And I'm trying to get him, mydad, to do this, because it
(23:48):
shows my kids that you can dosomething at any age.
You can change and trysomething, that they don't have
to stick in the same path.
Michele Folan (23:56):
So yeah, I had a guest on my show.
Her name's Susan Geedy and inher early 60s she decided she
was going to get herself inshape.
She lost I don't know how muchweight 50, some pounds, 50, some
(24:22):
pounds really just went at it,did a body competition and is
doing standup comedy and had herfirst one woman show where she
sang and played the harmonica.
She is 66 or 67 years old.
Shannon Russell (24:32):
Wow.
Michele Folan (24:34):
And this is where I, I, I don't care how old you
are, If you're 60, 70, 80, youget to do what you want If you
really put your mind to it.
You know, and she did, and Ijust I just love her and her
story.
But we can also talk aboutimposter syndrome not feeling
(24:55):
like we're enough or that we'requalified to do something.
What are your tips for buildingthat needed confidence to step
out and do the thing?
Shannon Russell (25:06):
I often say that if you feel like you need
to take a course or a workshopor join something online or do
that, if you need to pay forsome sort of education to make
yourself feel better, then allthe better to do it.
There's so much at yourfingertips.
You don't need to go back toget a master's degree in
whatever it is you're doing, butyou can also make a pivot
(25:29):
without spending money oncourses and all of that.
So it depends on where you'relooking to pivot into.
But I think to get thateducation if that's going to
make you feel confident, and ifyou're a lifelong learner like I
feel, like you and I both are,michelle, that why not?
You know, enjoy it and learnmore.
That is going to give you theconfidence to move forward, but
(25:52):
that it's not a necessity,because you can get so much
education via podcasts, books,so much online and even reaching
out to someone who's in thatfield that you're thinking about
, whether it's on LinkedIn or onsocial and different groups.
Reach out to people.
It's so easy to connect withsomeone that you don't know on
the other side of the worldthese days and people are happy
(26:14):
to help give you some advice.
Michele Folan (26:17):
Oh my gosh, that is such great advice, shannon,
the connection piece.
I cannot tell you how gratefulI am to the people that it was
women who I reached out to priorto starting even the podcast of
.
Hey, what's your opinion onthis?
(26:38):
You know, could you help mewith this?
What do you think?
And I continue to do that youand I were doing that before we
started recording, sharing ideasand tips, and that community is
out there just waiting for youif you so choose.
But you got to make the phonecall, send the email and you'd
(27:02):
be so surprised how many peopleare really willing to help.
Shannon Russell (27:05):
I agree.
Michele Folan (27:06):
I would love for you to share one or two client
success stories, because I thinkyou probably have a few to.
Shannon Russell (27:12):
Yeah, I'm just thinking.
I have a client who actuallyturned 60 and that was a big
year.
She had gone through a divorceand she was really trying to
come into her own and it wasinteresting working with her as
she was trying to grow herbusiness that she thought was
going in one direction and thenas we worked together she
started realizing that herpassion was in a different
(27:34):
direction and so she pivoted alittle bit within that.
And now she's getting up onstages and speaking about her
past and all the ups and downsthat she went through and being
60, she talks a lot about thelessons learned, should we say,
of when she was trying to applyfor jobs around that age and the
responses that she was gettingthat made her want to open her
(27:57):
own business and really be herown boss.
And so it's incredible just tosee the different avenues that
she's gone through and is justhappy.
She's just happier coming intoher own.
And then there's another clientI always love to say that she
knew she wanted to change andshe was doing that really long
commute that I did intoManhattan and she chose to take
(28:20):
a course and study and do herclasses on that commute.
So she was really dedicated,where she could have been
zonking out watching Netflix onthe bus or on the train, but she
was studying and she got acertification I forget how long
it took her and now she just sheleft the city and she opened
her own business and she isthriving being close to her kids
(28:43):
, which is what she wanted.
So just different ways of reallyfiguring out how to navigate
that change, ways of reallyfiguring out how to navigate
that change.
Michele Folan (28:49):
Fantastic.
Let's talk about your podcast.
Shannon Russell (28:59):
What kind of guests do you typically have on
your show?
I love to have guests who have.
My podcast is Second ActSuccess Career Podcast.
So anyone who has started asecond act career so people who
have come on and started theircareer in marketing and now they
have a fashion line or anythingthat's really drastic and fun
is always great to talk about.
And again, to get to thosethreads of how you can go from
one to the other and then I havesome career experts on as well.
(29:20):
I've had people on talkingabout the financial side of
changing careers or franchising,for example, or recruiting,
using recruiters to find whatyour next step may be.
So, yeah, a mix between expertsand just people like you and I
who have made that change.
Yeah, and you will be on mypodcast very soon too.
Michele Folan (29:39):
Michele, and I can't wait for that.
Yes, I'm looking forward tothat.
Any big plans for 2024?
Any big changes or anything?
Shannon Russell (29:47):
I am just I'm launching a newer version of my
program, my coaching program, sothat will be coming out in 2024
.
And I'm really working onspeaking more and getting in
front of people and kind ofsharing my story and encouraging
other people to step out oftheir comfort zones and kind of
produce their best life too.
So yeah, so we'll see wherethat goes.
(30:08):
And I am writing a book aboutsecond acts as well, so we'll
see how much that getsaccomplished in 2024.
Michele Folan (30:15):
But it's a work in progress.
Oh my God, could you putanything else on your plate,
shannon, for God's sakes?
Writing.
Shannon Russell (30:21):
Christmas movies.
Who knows, let's see.
Michele Folan (30:24):
You have to tell me if one of your movies ends up
on Hallmark Channel.
Shannon Russell (30:30):
Oh, I'll be shouting it from the world, if
that ever happens.
Michele Folan (30:32):
Okay, all right, I love to talk about self-care
and I would love to ask you whatis one of your important
pillars of self-care?
Shannon Russell (30:43):
It's zoning out.
I love podcasts and I lovewalking with my dog.
So every morning after I dropthe kids I take a nice long walk
with him and I have my earbudsin and that, to me, is just
getting away from everything Ineed to do for the day and just
listening to something funthat's not business related or
podcasting related, and justtaking that walk, getting that
(31:05):
exercise and yeah, and thenreading I just love to get away
with like a nice fiction book.
I love reading about self-careor, you know, self-improvement
and all of that, but to be ableto get away in some kind of
fictional world is really nicetoo.
Michele Folan (31:19):
Yeah, that sounds like heaven to me.
I like that.
How can people find you?
Shannon Russell (31:24):
Sure, everything is at
secondactsuccess.
co.
That's dot C-co, and there youcan find links to my podcast,
which is on Apple and Spotifyand everywhere, and my coaching
and there's blogs about careeradvice and all of that.
Michele Folan (31:38):
Wonderful, shannon.
I really appreciate you beinghere and look forward to
catching up with you hereshortly, absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me, michelle.
Thanks, shannon Shortly.
Shannon Russell (31:46):
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me, Michele.
Michele Folan (31:55):
Thanks, shannon.
Follow Asking for a Friend onsocial media outlets and provide
a review and share this showwherever you get your podcasts,
reviews and sharing help us grow, thank you.
I recorded this episode of the podcast back in
December but held on to it forsome reason, and now I know why.
Here's the story.
I have held a job steadilysince I was 18 years old and if
you do the math that is 42 yearsbut for those 10 months during
(00:22):
COVID.
I've had the itch for a whileto strike out on my own to give
entrepreneurship a whirl.
And when I broached this topicwith fellow podcaster and my
good friend Rochelle Conde Nau,she said something that stopped
me in my tracks.
Rochelle said, Michelle, it'snever too late, but late is
(00:43):
coming.
And I knew my 60th birthday wasjust around the corner and I
also realized that fearingfailure and giving up some of my
financial security was holdingme back from pulling the trigger
on going after my dream andfulfilling a passion.
I needed to start following myown advice.
Staying stuck because you fearchange is the scariest
(01:08):
proposition of all.
I read a quote recently and itwent something like this when it
feels scary to jump, that'sexactly when you jump.
Otherwise, you end up stayingin the same place your whole
life.
So on February 29th, four daysshy of my 60th birthday, I
(01:30):
resigned from a position asdirector of inside sales, a job
I really liked and a place I'vecalled home for the last three
years three years but it wastime, as a stronger force was
calling me, to do something elsewhere I can help midlife women
(01:50):
realize their potential to betheir best and focus on making
these amazing years theirhealthiest.
Yet I will continue to do thepodcast, so stay tuned Certainly
more to come on this and thankyou for being here.
Now on to the episode.
Health, wellness, fitnessrelationships and everything in
(02:17):
between.
We're removing the taboo fromwhat really matters in midlife.
I'm your host, Michele Folan,and this is Asking for a Friend
when measuring what a great lifelooks like.
Does the one you're livingmatch your dreams?
Many of us are looking at thisamazing phase of life and
(02:40):
assessing how we want to reframethis chapter.
Maybe it's your career, arelationship, pursuing a passion
or a fitness journey?
Do you need a little push tofeel empowered to make your move
?
Shannon Russell took her ownlife pivot from being a
successful TV producer to acertified career transition
(03:02):
coach to help women prepare andproduce their best life.
Shannon is also the host of theSecond Act Success podcast and
a creator of companion coachingprograms and online courses.
Welcome to Asking for a Friend,Shannon Russell.
Thank you, Michele.
It's nice to meet you and againhow these things work out.
(03:25):
We got introduced by a guynamed Adam who does the
podcasting coaching school orbusiness school, all right and
he thought we would be a greatpair to do a podcast together
and I'm always so appreciativeof that.
Do a podcast together, and I'malways so appreciative of that.
(03:47):
I would love for you to kind offill in the gaps a little bit
here in regard to yourbackground, your family and
school and also your career pathdetails.
Sure.
Shannon Russell (03:55):
So I was a communications major and right
out of college I went to NewYork City and I got my dream job
, working at MTV.
That was what I wanted, since Iwas much younger when I first
discovered it.
I was very into music andtelevision and it just seemed
like a perfect match.
And I worked there for amajority of my television career
(04:19):
, worked in New York City andthen moved to Los Angeles and
continued to work with MTV andthen also worked in reality and
I worked for E Entertainment anddigital, with Yahoo and other
big, big companies, yeah, andproduced for about 16 or so
years.
It was just such a dream.
And then I became a mom andthen things start shifting a
(04:41):
little bit and that's where Ikind of decided OK, I think I
need to put the brakes on thiscareer, that I love to really be
able to be present with my kids.
Michele Folan (04:53):
And did you move back from LA back to New Jersey
at that
We actually did.
I suffered from a littlepostpartum depression right
after having my first son, andwithin six months of having him
in our lives, we moved from LosAngeles back to the East Coast.
My family and I grew up in NewJersey, and so I just needed
(05:15):
that family around, and so myhusband is a television producer
as well, and so we both werecommuting into Manhattan.
I went back to my roots at MTVonce again.
He got a job, so we were doingthat commute and had family
around us, and we're still heretoday on the East Coast.
So you told me too.
They're like kind of betweendoing what you're doing now with
(05:35):
the podcast you started afranchise.
Shannon Russell (05:39):
I did so I had my first son and then, three
years later, I had my second sonand at that time I was still
commuting to Manhattan andactually it was when I was
pregnant with my second littleguy.
I had this aha moment of Ican't be doing this anymore.
It was just the stress oftrying to.
I had basically an hour and ahalf or two hour commute from
(05:59):
New York and it was trying toget on the bus or the subway and
the bus and get back, you know,to pick up one from daycare,
and I was pregnant, and so whenI had my little guy, I said you
know what?
I think I need to figure outsomething else.
And that was where I reallyreally struggled because, as I
mentioned, television waseverything I had ever wanted to
(06:21):
do and I had to do a lot of soulsearching and kind of reframing
to sort of think of it as I'mnot giving up on this career,
I'm checking the box.
I had done everything that Iwanted to do and I looked at
those people that were above meand I didn't want that job.
I wanted to be a mom.
(06:42):
And so I said, okay, great, Iwas able to accomplish this
dream.
That not a lot of people evenget to accomplish.
So I checked that box and Istarted thinking, well, how can
I move from television intosomething else that's closer to
home?
And that's when I startedreally doing a lot of soul
searching.
I always say I've made a lot ofwrong decisions.
(07:04):
I took a nine to five local job.
I went back to graduate schoolthinking I wanted to be a
teacher and I would get mymaster's.
So I was really just trying tofigure it out and it was a
lonely time of really justfiguring it out.
And so one day, looking at mythen three or maybe four year
old at the time, he was buildingwith Legos and I just had this
(07:24):
idea of, like, I want to diveinto STEM education and really
learning more about that.
And I came across a franchisecalled Snapology and I ended up
just taking a huge leap of faith.
I bought into the franchise,opened this business and
basically we teach children Legobuilding and robotics and how
(07:46):
to think like an engineer, andit's very education based.
And so, yeah, I opened that in2016.
And now I still own it almost.
You know, it's been about sevenand a half years.
Oh, wow, that was really atransition into being able to be
that more present mom that Iwanted to be and use my
(08:07):
managerial, my executive kind ofrunning a business, running a
production, and I transfer thatinto running a business.
Michele Folan (08:14):
A few things here I want to comment.
First of all, very brave of youto admit that being a mom was
what you wanted your priority tobe.
So, kudos, because that is areally hard decision to make
when you've worked so hard inyour career all those years.
So I love that.
(08:34):
But you had a lot of pivotsthrough all this, so this was
not one of those things whereyou decided one day this is what
you're going to do and you didit.
You tried a few things in thereto try to see what it felt most
comfortable, and this franchisesounds like it really spoke to
you.
Shannon Russell (08:50):
Yeah, it did and I, like I didn't jump into
it I mean it was a leap of faithbut I did my research, I spoke
to many other franchisees and Ifelt that I could use all that
experience in running theselarge scale productions in
entertainment on a much smallerscale and running my own
business.
And it was scary.
(09:11):
But I started to see, as Istarted to grow the business and
figure it out, that I reallydid have the experience and I
had the skills that transitionedover to a different career path
and that was a really a greatlesson to learn that I now am
able to teach others, because Ithink so many times we feel like
we're pigeonholed in what wedecide to do when we're 22 and
(09:34):
we're leaving college.
And for me, it was really agreat learning experience to
learn that I can do this reallyscary other thing and I can do
it well.
And yeah, so it was.
And it was one of those thingswhere I could do it from home.
I could go out during the daywhile my kids were in school and
then I could be there to pickthem up, and so it was really
(09:54):
that perfect combination ofbeing that mom and still really
owning a business and beingsuccessful at it.
Michele Folan (10:00):
And then, when did you decide to start coaching
and start a podcast?
Because I always laugh whenpeople are like, yeah, I decided
to do a podcast.
Like, what in God's name wouldlike make you want to start a
podcast?
That's, you know, the questionI get sometimes.
Shannon Russell (10:16):
Oh, yes, me too.
And what's funny is I would getthese questions in running my
other franchise business thatpeople would say, oh, you're
such a great teacher, because Iwould teach a lot of the classes
for the first few years I wouldbe teaching kids and out at
schools and people would say, oh, what grade did you teach prior
to this?
And I would say, actually, I'ma television producer.
And I would get these reactionsand then I would get well, can
(10:40):
you teach me how to do that?
I don't want to do the commuteanymore, or I want to switch to
something else, because 15, 20years in this dream of mine,
this role that I started,doesn't fit my life now.
And so I started just helpingfriends or even customers of
mine.
Okay, well, why don't you trythis?
Or, you know, read this book,or this is what I did, or I
(11:02):
would just kind of be counselingthem kind of on what they could
do to make their transitions.
And then it just hit me one dayI was talking with a friend who
was really struggling.
She was having this really longcommute and she was so unhappy,
crying every night, and it hitme that I had no one to help me
when I was transitioning into anew career and that maybe I
(11:23):
really could help others, and soI sat on it for a little while.
I started writing a book.
I was just thinking of how Ican reach more people and the
podcast came to mind, and so Iinitially began the business as
a podcast and interviewing otherpeople about how they left
their first job and started asecond act, and then from there,
(11:43):
I really started just coachingpeople and educating myself more
on different ways and yeah, sonow it's a podcast and I'm a
career coach, so it's been sofulfilling.
Michele Folan (11:54):
Yeah, and this is not about me, but I'm going to
make this about me just for asecond here, please do.
It took me losing my job beforethe pandemic, like six weeks
before shutdown.
Shannon Russell (12:07):
Oh.
Michele Folan (12:08):
And being 56 years old, you know, in the
middle of a global pandemic,just really reassess what was
important to me in regard to mycareer, and that's when I
decided to do a podcast.
So sometimes we have to beforced into making those
(12:29):
decisions, but just to be ableto have that time to be able to
really think about it was superimportant for me.
And one thing I do want to sayto you is that for midlife women
, you know we're not justtalking about careers here.
It's not just about finding acareer you love.
(12:52):
Sometimes, it's just aboutfinding the life you love.
And so what are some of thecommon themes that you hear,
particularly with midlife women?
Shannon Russell (13:02):
Well, Michelle , I want to comment on what you
said too is that I think thepandemic forced you to really
take that time and think aboutwhat it is that you want.
And so often we are just busyworking and running a family and
doing all the things that wenever ask ourselves are we happy
and what do we want?
So the pandemic gave that toyou.
And so often I hear that fromclients and from guests on my
(13:26):
podcast that they're just so init that how dare they take that
chance to switch things up, howdare they like who are they to
want to wreak havoc in thestatus quo of their lives?
And that's the biggest thing Ihear is that you know I'm
unhappy, but everything's goingokay with my family.
I'm just going to, you know,keep coasting along.
(13:48):
I often say, well, you can, andthat's fine and everything might
work out.
Or you can just start slowlythinking about what it is that
you might want to do, just likeon a whim.
Just think about it, write itdown, journal about it, allow
yourself to think about it, andyou don't have to make any moves
.
But then you can start thinking, well, what would it look like
(14:09):
if I did do that, if I did takeone step, because it's a lot of
times we just don't listen toourselves and take that time.
Michele Folan (14:16):
Well, there's the whole paradigm shift of always
putting everybody's needs aheadof our own and making that
uncomfortable move of saying I'mgoing to prioritize myself
right now and make myself happyor figure out what it is that
(14:37):
will truly make me feelfulfilled.
I guess my question would bethen if you know you have this
midlife itch but we're havingdifficulty figuring out what
that is, how do you dig intosomeone's passions?
How do you get them to pullthat out?
Shannon Russell (14:56):
I like to just ask the questions about
childhood even, like what didyou want to do when you were
younger, and does that still, atsome point in you, or a little
part of you, still want to dothat?
Maybe it's not still want to bethat ballerina that we want it
to be, or something like that,but are you more interested in
being creative?
And if it's creativity, couldyou write a blog, could you
(15:19):
start writing a book in yourspare time?
Or, you know, maybe you startedoff with one major in college
and then you switch, forwhatever reason.
Is there still an interest thatlies there?
So you can start thinking aboutyour past, because I think our
past really does lead us to ourfuture and where we should be.
And then really, I like tothink about the threads that
(15:40):
kind of thread us through ourlives.
So I talk a lot about nowproducing your best life, and
that's what I did.
I produced these big projectsand now I help people produce a
life that makes them happier, orI produce my podcast.
So there's little threads thatgo through and a lot of times
when you think about thosethreads and even where you are
(16:01):
now, even if you're unhappy,well, maybe there's some way of
going above and beyond where Iam now to bring in some of those
aspects of my life that I dolove, and in a way that doesn't
disrupt everything.
So just to start to dabble inthat.
Michele Folan (16:23):
So I'm thinking about someone that I know in
particular, who I'll say shegets a bad case of the Sunday,
scaries, dreads Monday and herjob's super stressful.
She isn't fulfilled but shefeels stuck in her situation.
Hers is financial, but what ifyou're in a family business and
(16:43):
you're beholden to the familybusiness?
Do you ever help clients, tryto find peace where they are?
Shannon Russell (16:51):
I do and I think you can find peace where
you are.
There's definitely clients ofmine and even friends of mine
who, like you said, are can findpeace where you are.
There's definitely clients ofmine and even friends of mine
who, like you said, are beholdento where they are and there's
not really a way of breakingcompletely free from that.
But it's finding a way to findyourself in the midst of that
day-to-day stress and it mightbe silly, but I love Christmas.
(17:13):
I'm like a big ChristmasHallmark movie kind of person
and there was this thing thatthis is just something that
popped in.
But there was something thatpopped up on my Facebook feed
about going to this onlinevirtual workshop to learn how to
write a Christmas movie.
It has absolutely nothing to dowith anything that I do on a
daily basis for either of mybusinesses, but I said you know
(17:34):
what I want to do it and Isigned up and I did it and I
cannot stop talking about it,clearly if I'm talking about it
with you but it was somethingthat just gave me joy and gave
me an hour or so.
It was only a couple of nightsduring one week, but it gave me
that time for myself away fromthe kids, away from work, where
I could focus on something elsethat just brought me pure joy
(17:55):
and there was no stress orexpectations to it.
So if we can find those littlethings that pop up that seem
like something that would bringus that joy because you never
know where that can lead so Ijust urge everyone to think
about that in the midst of yourstressful day, maybe it's just
going for an extra long walk byyourself with a good podcast in
(18:18):
your ear, or writing, or pickingup an instrument, or baking.
Just those little things thatkind of bring you those peace
and make your weeks not asstressful, because you feel like
you have something that's apart of you.
Michele Folan (18:32):
Yeah, I like that idea.
And what a fun class to take.
Shannon Russell (18:35):
Oh my gosh and Michelle.
I'm like writing in my sparetime now, just writing these
fictional stories, and I meanit's just.
I find that that is a nicelittle stress relief that I
didn't know I needed.
So I feel like at any time wecan come up with something that
can give us that little escape.
Michele Folan (18:54):
Doing this podcast has been very
enlightening for me, because I'mfinding women in midlife are
man, they got balls.
They're doing some reallyincredible things writing books
like you, starting coachingbusiness.
I say this all the time thatyou don't have to write a book,
(19:15):
you don't have to start acoaching business, but finding
that little thing that lightsyou up and adds some fun to your
life.
Some women are still evenuncomfortable doing that because
they don't want to be seen assilly or they still fear failure
in some degree, and so that'ssomething that I bet you have to
(19:39):
work through with people aswell, right?
Shannon Russell (19:41):
Yeah, absolutely, and with myself as
well, because, you're right, weall have that imposter syndrome,
or I just think it's at thisage in midlife that we kind of
maybe care about what otherpeople think just a little bit
less, and we do prioritize oursanity, if you will, because if
you are so stressed all day, itcomes back to your work, it
(20:02):
shows in your work, it showswith your family, it shows with
your friends.
So just to say, it doesn'tmatter if I want to spend all
Sunday reorganizing the closets,because it's me and my alone
time and that's what I enjoy todo, then you can do it.
But yeah, it's just findingthat little thing.
It can be something so sillyand embrace the silliness, right
Like we only live once.
Michele Folan (20:23):
Yeah, I think it's kind of a part of self-care
, honestly, yeah.
Shannon Russell (20:28):
Absolutely.
Michele Folan (20:29):
Do you ever work with a client and discover that
maybe it's really a relationshipthat's in need of some
attention or change, and maybenot necessarily the career or
the that little somethingoutside of their career?
I do.
Shannon Russell (20:49):
And and it's funny, I find that something I
struggle with as a coach is Ibecome almost friends with my
clients, like too friendly, andthat they start telling me about
their personal relationshipsand different things that are
going on in their lives, whichis wonderful because I want them
to feel that level of comfort.
But we do start talking aboutthat sometimes in how I have had
(21:13):
clients say that their spouseor their partner does not
approve of maybe their businessventure that they're taking or
the fact that they are thinkingabout this change and they're
looking at different careeroptions outside of their current
industry.
And you know I'm not atherapist by any means, but it's
saying, okay, well, you canrespect what that partner, what
(21:34):
that person in your relationshipsays and how they feel.
But at the end of the day youcan only make yourself happy and
that's why I talk about babysteps and not just saying I'm
quitting today and the JerryMcGuire of it all and just
walking out and having itdisrupt your whole family.
But you can do little babysteps to learn about yourself
and learn about that potentialcareer path or life change and
(21:59):
just dabble in it and see how itwill have a ripple effect or
not have a ripple effect oneveryone else, because, yeah,
you want your relationships tostay healthy and strong, but you
also want to make sure thatyou're happy.
So, yeah, that comes up quiteoften.
I think again to bring it backto the fact that we are in
midlife and we know what we wantat this point, and we are a lot
(22:19):
I think we speak our voices andmake our moves in a way that we
wouldn't have done in our 20s.
Michele Folan (22:25):
I think we're getting better about that, and I
saw this on your Instagram.
I think it said something aboutputting others first oftentimes
means burying beneath otherpeople's needs.
I think, again, it's a paradigmit's hard to shift out of, and
then some of those are also theexpectations that people have of
(22:48):
us as being a breadwinner andthat sort of thing.
It makes them uncomfortable,thinking okay, they're able to
change, they're able to graspthis new thing in their life,
and it can make the peoplearound us feel unsettled.
Shannon Russell (23:05):
I think at times, oh yeah, I struggle that
with my husband.
It feels that way often with meand all the changes that I've
made in these last eight yearsor so and he admits it sometimes
that it's you know, he's stillin the same career path and I've
made in these last eight yearsor so and he admits it sometimes
that it's you know he's stillin the same career path and I've
done all these other things andbut it's still it's.
Everyone has their own path, soit's not changing.
(23:26):
I'm still bringing in money tothe family, I'm contributing,
I'm doing all the things and Ialways say you can change at any
time.
I tell my kids we're just.
We were having this conversationwith my father, who's retired,
about that.
My kids asked him to startwriting a book about golden
retrievers and he said, oh, okay, I'll look into it.
And they're like no, you can dothis, you can write it.
And I'm trying to get him, mydad, to do this, because it
(23:48):
shows my kids that you can dosomething at any age.
You can change and trysomething, that they don't have
to stick in the same path.
Michele Folan (23:56):
So yeah, I had a guest on my show.
Her name's Susan Geedy and inher early 60s she decided she
was going to get herself inshape.
She lost I don't know how muchweight 50, some pounds, 50, some
(24:22):
pounds really just went at it,did a body competition and is
doing standup comedy and had herfirst one woman show where she
sang and played the harmonica.
She is 66 or 67 years old.
Shannon Russell (24:32):
Wow.
Michele Folan (24:34):
And this is where I, I, I don't care how old you
are, If you're 60, 70, 80, youget to do what you want If you
really put your mind to it.
You know, and she did, and Ijust I just love her and her
story.
But we can also talk aboutimposter syndrome not feeling
(24:55):
like we're enough or that we'requalified to do something.
What are your tips for buildingthat needed confidence to step
out and do the thing?
Shannon Russell (25:06):
I often say that if you feel like you need
to take a course or a workshopor join something online or do
that, if you need to pay forsome sort of education to make
yourself feel better, then allthe better to do it.
There's so much at yourfingertips.
You don't need to go back toget a master's degree in
whatever it is you're doing, butyou can also make a pivot
(25:29):
without spending money oncourses and all of that.
So it depends on where you'relooking to pivot into.
But I think to get thateducation if that's going to
make you feel confident, and ifyou're a lifelong learner like I
feel, like you and I both are,michelle, that why not?
You know, enjoy it and learnmore.
That is going to give you theconfidence to move forward, but
(25:52):
that it's not a necessity,because you can get so much
education via podcasts, books,so much online and even reaching
out to someone who's in thatfield that you're thinking about
, whether it's on LinkedIn or onsocial and different groups.
Reach out to people.
It's so easy to connect withsomeone that you don't know on
the other side of the worldthese days and people are happy
(26:14):
to help give you some advice.
Michele Folan (26:17):
Oh my gosh, that is such great advice, shannon,
the connection piece.
I cannot tell you how gratefulI am to the people that it was
women who I reached out to priorto starting even the podcast of
.
Hey, what's your opinion onthis?
(26:38):
You know, could you help mewith this?
What do you think?
And I continue to do that youand I were doing that before we
started recording, sharing ideasand tips, and that community is
out there just waiting for youif you so choose.
But you got to make the phonecall, send the email and you'd
(27:02):
be so surprised how many peopleare really willing to help.
Shannon Russell (27:05):
I agree.
Michele Folan (27:06):
I would love for you to share one or two client
success stories, because I thinkyou probably have a few to.
Shannon Russell (27:12):
Yeah, I'm just thinking.
I have a client who actuallyturned 60 and that was a big
year.
She had gone through a divorceand she was really trying to
come into her own and it wasinteresting working with her as
she was trying to grow herbusiness that she thought was
going in one direction and thenas we worked together she
started realizing that herpassion was in a different
(27:34):
direction and so she pivoted alittle bit within that.
And now she's getting up onstages and speaking about her
past and all the ups and downsthat she went through and being
60, she talks a lot about thelessons learned, should we say,
of when she was trying to applyfor jobs around that age and the
responses that she was gettingthat made her want to open her
(27:57):
own business and really be herown boss.
And so it's incredible just tosee the different avenues that
she's gone through and is justhappy.
She's just happier coming intoher own.
And then there's another clientI always love to say that she
knew she wanted to change andshe was doing that really long
commute that I did intoManhattan and she chose to take
(28:20):
a course and study and do herclasses on that commute.
So she was really dedicated,where she could have been
zonking out watching Netflix onthe bus or on the train, but she
was studying and she got acertification I forget how long
it took her and now she just sheleft the city and she opened
her own business and she isthriving being close to her kids
(28:43):
, which is what she wanted.
So just different ways of reallyfiguring out how to navigate
that change, ways of reallyfiguring out how to navigate
that change.
Michele Folan (28:49):
Fantastic.
Let's talk about your podcast.
Shannon Russell (28:59):
What kind of guests do you typically have on
your show?
I love to have guests who have.
My podcast is Second ActSuccess Career Podcast.
So anyone who has started asecond act career so people who
have come on and started theircareer in marketing and now they
have a fashion line or anythingthat's really drastic and fun
is always great to talk about.
And again, to get to thosethreads of how you can go from
one to the other and then I havesome career experts on as well.
(29:20):
I've had people on talkingabout the financial side of
changing careers or franchising,for example, or recruiting,
using recruiters to find whatyour next step may be.
So, yeah, a mix between expertsand just people like you and I
who have made that change.
Yeah, and you will be on mypodcast very soon too.
Michele Folan (29:39):
Michele, and I can't wait for that.
Yes, I'm looking forward tothat.
Any big plans for 2024?
Any big changes or anything?
Shannon Russell (29:47):
I am just I'm launching a newer version of my
program, my coaching program, sothat will be coming out in 2024
.
And I'm really working onspeaking more and getting in
front of people and kind ofsharing my story and encouraging
other people to step out oftheir comfort zones and kind of
produce their best life too.
So yeah, so we'll see wherethat goes.
(30:08):
And I am writing a book aboutsecond acts as well, so we'll
see how much that getsaccomplished in 2024.
Michele Folan (30:15):
But it's a work in progress.
Oh my God, could you putanything else on your plate,
shannon, for God's sakes?
Writing.
Shannon Russell (30:21):
Christmas movies.
Who knows, let's see.
Michele Folan (30:24):
You have to tell me if one of your movies ends up
on Hallmark Channel.
Shannon Russell (30:30):
Oh, I'll be shouting it from the world, if
that ever happens.
Michele Folan (30:32):
Okay, all right, I love to talk about self-care
and I would love to ask you whatis one of your important
pillars of self-care?
Shannon Russell (30:43):
It's zoning out.
I love podcasts and I lovewalking with my dog.
So every morning after I dropthe kids I take a nice long walk
with him and I have my earbudsin and that, to me, is just
getting away from everything Ineed to do for the day and just
listening to something funthat's not business related or
podcasting related, and justtaking that walk, getting that
(31:05):
exercise and yeah, and thenreading I just love to get away
with like a nice fiction book.
I love reading about self-careor, you know, self-improvement
and all of that, but to be ableto get away in some kind of
fictional world is really nicetoo.
Michele Folan (31:19):
Yeah, that sounds like heaven to me.
I like that.
How can people find you?
Shannon Russell (31:24):
Sure, everything is at
secondactsuccess.
co.
That's dot C-co, and there youcan find links to my podcast,
which is on Apple and Spotifyand everywhere, and my coaching
and there's blogs about careeradvice and all of that.
Michele Folan (31:38):
Wonderful, shannon.
I really appreciate you beinghere and look forward to
catching up with you hereshortly, absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me, michelle.
Thanks, shannon Shortly.
Shannon Russell (31:46):
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me, Michele.
Michele Folan (31:55):
Thanks, shannon.
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