Has anyone here down-shifted her career at 50?

[Anonymous]

I did. I went from a very demanding management position to working from home part time as a consultant. It was awesome. After a few years, we were in a position financially to fully retire, but the interim job was a great transition — both financially and mentally — from my old job. Retiring directly from that job might have been too abrupt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did. I went from a very demanding management position to working from home part time as a consultant. It was awesome. After a few years, we were in a position financially to fully retire, but the interim job was a great transition — both financially and mentally — from my old job. Retiring directly from that job might have been too abrupt.

This. As long as you are on cusp of retirement it’s a good plan. If you need the job it makes you very vulnerable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you but if this is a new type of feeling for you it may be hormonal or vitamin deficiency.

Lol

Different poster.

I’m pushing 50 and I’m a C suite manager as well. Post-covid, the job has become difficult because people have become difficult. I spend my day dealing with people who no longer want to come to the office (they only need to come in once or twice a week to meet with and manage their teams/projects, including onboarding and training new people). They are now easily overwhelmed. Several have disclosed mental health issues. Many have lost soft skills and create drama with coworkers or entire departments.

It’s exhausting.

If I could find something else to do at 70% of my salary I’d take it. But I have kids who are going off to college in the next handful of years, so I can’t retire or decrease my salary too much.

I wish everyone would just chill out, be professional, and do their job.

Amen to that.

Another Amen. I am truly baffled by the people I manage who could competently do their job pre-Covid and now spend most of their time creating drama in order to not have to work.

Have some empathy. They are also doing a 2nd full time job as well.

Actually, we did discover a staffer hung out a shingle and was moonlighting as a life coach. Turns out it had become their primary gig.

Most aren’t moonlighting though. Most are just checked out. Our office was very lenient during covid, and now everyone thinks doing the bare minimum is normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you but if this is a new type of feeling for you it may be hormonal or vitamin deficiency.

Lol

Different poster.

I’m pushing 50 and I’m a C suite manager as well. Post-covid, the job has become difficult because people have become difficult. I spend my day dealing with people who no longer want to come to the office (they only need to come in once or twice a week to meet with and manage their teams/projects, including onboarding and training new people). They are now easily overwhelmed. Several have disclosed mental health issues. Many have lost soft skills and create drama with coworkers or entire departments.

It’s exhausting.

If I could find something else to do at 70% of my salary I’d take it. But I have kids who are going off to college in the next handful of years, so I can’t retire or decrease my salary too much.

I wish everyone would just chill out, be professional, and do their job.

Amen to that.

Another Amen. I am truly baffled by the people I manage who could competently do their job pre-Covid and now spend most of their time creating drama in order to not have to work.

Have some empathy. They are also doing a 2nd full time job as well.

Actually, we did discover a staffer hung out a shingle and was moonlighting as a life coach. Turns out it had become their primary gig.

Most aren’t moonlighting though. Most are just checked out. Our office was very lenient during covid, and now everyone thinks doing the bare minimum is normal.

I work from home and for instance Tuesday have an interview, Friday doctors appointments, got to start my taxes. The sense of urgency is lost.

[Anonymous]

50 is way to far from retirement. Over 50 if out of work more than 2 years you are out of work forever.

I downshifted not by choice at 57. I was high level. I ended up getting a lower level job where I was not the boss reporting to a Type A boss who was 39. He is totally Gung Ho as he is swinging his dick around “a lot” and expected a ton of work off me to help raise his profile and move him up Career ladder. Even worse his second in command was a double type A 36 year old. Also looking to move up. I was third in charge at end of career disposable.

I think as no longer in charge. Had no desire to make him look great for 60 percent my old pay check. Out of blue he fired me no warning As a worker you get tossed easily

It was a short stint. Went back to being the boss at new job. If you are not a direct CEO or board report any good work you do gets hidden. Any bad work blamed.

But I did find out I was very resentful when I was not boss I was in situation he cut me out key meetings to take credit and I was scape goat. Also resentful his salary. And after a few weeks I had zero desire to be a back up to the back up QB.

A job underpaid with no promotion opportunity is depressing more than I thought. Also shocking how short lived it can be.

[Anonymous]

I’m not saying give up all managerial responsibilities or just become a worker bee.

But there’s a big difference between being a ceo and being a manager of others.

Also, you can’t take too much of a pay cut or that will just grate on you.

But just saying, there’s probably another position out there for you that’s a better fit right now, and you should explore that.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I shifted from being a high earning finance hotshot and breadwinner to being an artist at 47. It was prompted by tragedy and it is the most freeing thing I’ve ever experienced.

I urge you to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I downshifted to an IC role at 49. A downside is that people treat you like you aren't that smart if you aren't managing people at that age. If your ego can withstand that go for that less demanding position. Peace of mind is more important to me than anything else.

No, they won't. At least the smart, politically-savvy ones won't. Someone who was an executive, but downshifted to an IC role (where their expertise is still valued), knows the C-suite quite well (since she used to be part of that exclusive club).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you but if this is a new type of feeling for you it may be hormonal or vitamin deficiency.

Lol

Different poster.

I’m pushing 50 and I’m a C suite manager as well. Post-covid, the job has become difficult because people have become difficult. I spend my day dealing with people who no longer want to come to the office (they only need to come in once or twice a week to meet with and manage their teams/projects, including onboarding and training new people). They are now easily overwhelmed. Several have disclosed mental health issues. Many have lost soft skills and create drama with coworkers or entire departments.

It’s exhausting.

If I could find something else to do at 70% of my salary I’d take it. But I have kids who are going off to college in the next handful of years, so I can’t retire or decrease my salary too much.

I wish everyone would just chill out, be professional, and do their job.

Amen to that.

Another Amen. I am truly baffled by the people I manage who could competently do their job pre-Covid and now spend most of their time creating drama in order to not have to work.

Have some empathy. They are also doing a 2nd full time job as well.

Actually, we did discover a staffer hung out a shingle and was moonlighting as a life coach. Turns out it had become their primary gig.

Most aren’t moonlighting though. Most are just checked out. Our office was very lenient during covid, and now everyone thinks doing the bare minimum is normal.

NP - my organization was “very supportive” during covid - which meant we could do the increased workload at any time of the night, after wrangling our school-aged kids all day long. We’re exhausted.

[Anonymous]

I did. From a PT attorney to a FT non-attorney, so the drop in pay wasn't super-dramatic. It was noticeable, though. I'm super-happy I made the switch. I could have slugged through 10 more years as an attorney, but I would have been miserable, and I can happily work until 67 (or beyond) doing what I do now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you but if this is a new type of feeling for you it may be hormonal or vitamin deficiency.

Lol

Different poster.

I’m pushing 50 and I’m a C suite manager as well. Post-covid, the job has become difficult because people have become difficult. I spend my day dealing with people who no longer want to come to the office (they only need to come in once or twice a week to meet with and manage their teams/projects, including onboarding and training new people). They are now easily overwhelmed. Several have disclosed mental health issues. Many have lost soft skills and create drama with coworkers or entire departments.

It’s exhausting.

If I could find something else to do at 70% of my salary I’d take it. But I have kids who are going off to college in the next handful of years, so I can’t retire or decrease my salary too much.

I wish everyone would just chill out, be professional, and do their job.

I feel the same way, why do you think that is?
I am also easily overwhelmed and get depressed periodically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I shifted from being a high earning finance hotshot and breadwinner to being an artist at 47. It was prompted by tragedy and it is the most freeing thing I’ve ever experienced.

I urge you to do it.

But you had earned FU money and could essentially retire at 47. It all comes down to the question — do you need to earn any more mone? Downshifting not only drops income but increases your vulnerability to middle age cuts.

[Anonymous]

I did. Early in Covid. Early 50s, just exhausted after almost a decade of breakneck speed, every day a crisis, trying to be a good manager in a bad situation. A chance to go work for a related organization, but different enough I knew the pace would be slower. Nice title, no management responsibility, slightly less pay.
There are upsides, but it turns out a slower pace isn’t ideal either. I spend a lot of days pulling my hair out at what could get done if everyone worked a bit harder. Now in my mid 50s and trying to figure out how to spend the next 10 years.
If I had to do it all over again I’m not sure what I would choose. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

I'm mid 50s, so I feel okay in saying: it's okay to slow down, OP. If you need the permission of total strangers here to do so, then you have my blessing. Not that need it, of course, but maybe it's good to hear it from one of your fellow Gen Xers.

You have done your bit, you have worked hard, you deserve to slow down and enjoy your life. You are not 25 anymore, you are double that. Listen to your mind, and body, and seek peace and stability and happiness and fun and joy and any other positive emotion.

Do it!

[Anonymous]

I read this as "down shifted her car" and i was thinking 50 meant 50mph, and I was intrigued enough to click on it until I realized my mistake.