A Note From Colleen

Hi, friend.

When life throws curveballs after 50, it can feel overwhelming and devastating. But, like any challenge, you have two options: lay down and give up or stand up and take charge.

In this issue, I share my story of starting over, enduring more heartache and loss than I ever thought possible. I’m sharing this because I know it's a story many of you can relate to.

As we age, life seems to bring more unexpected challenges. Often, we haven't anticipated these hardships, so we haven’t planned for them either.

I know many women in this community find themselves in a place of reinvention and starting over—sometimes by choice, sometimes because we have no choice.

I want to share a message of hope and provide you with actionable steps if you find yourself needing to make a new plan.

Thanks for being here.

Cheers,

Colleen Kochannek, Publisher

*This publication may include affiliate links and links to products I sell. If you click and buy, I may earn revenue and/or commission. 

Why Starting A Digital Business After 50 Is Your Best Bet

In 2017, I unknowingly began building the foundation of my 3rd Act. At 50 years old, I found myself laid off after a 25+ year corporate career. Life was good and steady, so I made the bold move to start my own digital business. I saw ‘all the young people doing it’ and thought, “Why not me?” The idea of being my own boss, working from anywhere, and making money doing something I enjoyed was appealing.

My first venture was an online magazine for my little town in Florida. Before my corporate days, I was a freelance magazine writer for big glossy publications like Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications. I loved magazines and naively thought, “How hard could it be to launch a small, local online magazine?”

Well, ignorance is bliss, as they say. By day #2 of my new online business journey, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I had zero clue how an online business worked or what was required to make a go of it.

But, I was committed to succeeding. I jumped into every guru program I could find. You name one, I did it. But none of them worked for me. Not because they were bad programs, but because they weren't built with someone like me in mind: a 50-year-old digital immigrant who was a true beginner in the digital business space. The courses were built by younger people for younger people. The other students (cue: younger) seemed to understand concepts that left me puzzled. I kept my questions to myself, avoiding the risk of looking like an outdated dinosaur.

Feeling old, dated, and defeated, but still determined, I kept going until I figured it out. 

Then, life threw some devastating curveballs: I became a caregiver for my husband, lost him a year later, suffered a back injury, and faced serious financial woes and moved several times. Then, I lost my sister (and only sibling) and a bit later, lost two best friends. Eventually, I gave up on the online magazine (because I didn’t want to be tethered to  the little town in Florida) and shifted to coaching, helping other women over 50 start simple digital businesses without the overwhelm I experienced.

Through all the challenges, my digital business became a lifeline. It gave me the flexibility to rebuild my life on my terms. Today, at 57, I'm starting over – personally, emotionally, and financially. My story might feel out of the ordinary, but it's incredibly relatable to many women over 50 who are finding themselves in the midst of big life happenings and transitions (often out of their control). 

The more I chat with women in my community, the more I realize that many of us are coming into our 3rd Act without enough money to support the quality of life we want and having to navigate big life transitions.

Having a digital business has become THE answer.

The biggest surprise of all? Having a digital business has proven to be about so much more than money. It’s become the basis for building my bold 3rd Act:  

• I don’t want to stop working. I like doing and achieving and having an impact, but I do want to be able to work and earn on my terms (answer: digital business).

• I don’t want to stop learning and growing. I always want interesting challenges in my life and interesting new stories to talk about (answer: digital business).  

• I don’t want my community and social circles to disappear (answer: digital business). My digital business has brought many incredible new people into my life. I run with crowds I never could have imagined 7 years ago.

So, as you consider your own 3rd Act, remember this: it's never too late to start a digital business. It's an opportunity to leverage your decades of life experience, create your ideal lifestyle, and build something truly meaningful. Your journey, like mine, can be a testament to the power of reinvention and resilience. 

Essential Advice: 10 Tips to Jumpstart Your Digital Business

1: Don’t Overthink It

Back in 2017, I spent endless hours pondering my business idea. I filled notebooks with plans, researched like crazy, and brainstormed until my head hurt.

Takeaway: You can’t think your way to success; you need to act.

My Advice: Explore your idea thoroughly, but take action. Stay open and flexible because your idea will evolve over time. The sooner you start, the sooner you can refine it.

2: Treat Your Business Like a Business from Day One

I wanted freedom and flexibility, which is why I became an entrepreneur. But I quickly realized that without structure, I wasn’t moving forward.

Takeaway: Starting an online business requires consistent effort. Freedom and flexibility come later, after you’ve built a solid foundation.

My Advice:Treat your business seriously. Establish a work schedule that suits you, whether it’s early morning or late at night, and make that time non-negotiable.

3: Stop Procrasti-Learning

I knew I needed to learn about online business, so I took one course after another, convincing myself that I was working on my business. In reality, I was just delaying the start because I was scared.

Takeaway: Learning is crucial, but it’s not a substitute for action.

My Advice:Learn and implement. Choose a program, stick to it, and ensure the material is relevant to your current stage in business.

4: Stop Waiting for Your Ducks to Be in a Row

I kept telling myself, “As soon as I set up my FB Page… As soon as I figure out my product… As soon as…” This tactic led me nowhere.

Takeaway:Getting your ducks in a row” is a classic stalling tactic.

My Advice: Forget about perfect alignment. Start where you are, and figure things out as you go. It will be okay, I promise.

5: Don’t Be Afraid to Put Yourself Out There

Everyone’s afraid of failure, judgment, and looking silly.

Takeaway: Success comes to those who act despite their fears.

My Advice: Remember, you admire those who put themselves out there. Do the same. You might be bad at first, but you’ll improve with practice.

6: Your Idea Doesn’t Have to Be Brilliant

My business today looks nothing like what I envisioned at the start. Your online business will evolve as you learn and grow.

Takeaway: Clarity comes from doing.

My Advice: Start now. Be flexible and ready to pivot based on feedback from your audience.

7: Tech Is Not a Hurdle

The tech aspect scared me. I thought I could never build a website or use an email service provider. But I learned that these are just skills to acquire.

Takeaway: Tech challenges are part of the process, but they’re manageable.

My Advice: Focus on the tech you enjoy. Use user-friendly tools like Stan Store for a simple setup. For more complex tasks, outsource them.

8: Know What Your Business Does

Initially, I confused my business idea with what my business actually did. Your business provides a specific solution or transformation for a specific person.

Takeaway: Understanding what your business does is key.

My Advice: Get your business out there and learn from your audience. This will help you refine your message and offerings.

9: Don’t Be Married to Your Ideas

Flexibility is crucial. Sometimes, you’ll have to let go of ideas you love because they don’t resonate with your audience.

Takeaway: Your business will evolve. Stay flexible.

My Advice: Keep an open mind and be willing to pivot based on feedback.

10: You Are Not Your Ideal Customer

We often start businesses based on personal experiences, but remember, your ideal customer is at a different point in their journey.

Takeaway: Always consider your audience’s perspective.

My Advice: Maintain a beginner’s mindset. Your customers are at the start of their journey, so communicate accordingly.

Join me for this FREE Workshop and Open House... What’sreally needed to start a digital business after 50. REGISTER HERE.

Discover the essentials of launching a successful (simple) digital business - tailored for women over 50 (with no-to-limited knowlege of the online business space).

In this free workshop, you'll learn:

• Basic steps to building an online business from what you can offer to building your product to basic marketing plans to building your online storefront (Good news: you don't need a website!)

• Required tools: I've got an all-time favorite tool you can use to run your ENTIRE digital business - no techy skills required.

• What you'll need to learn: how to create a product, how to build and implement a simple marketing plan, etc.

• Investments needed: how long will it take and what will it cost?

I understand how important it is to have YOUR specific questions answered (not just generic information thrown your way). Ask your questions during a Ask Me Anything activity.

You'll walk away from this Simple Start Digital Business Workhshop and Open House with a clear and confident understanding of how to build a simple digital business.

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION HERE

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