Much of my own inspiration comes from you my readers. People like Mary Alice Murphy who wrote to share her story.
Mary Alice lives in Silver City, New Mexico, a place she describes as “a gorgeous little town in far southwest New Mexico tucked into mountains with desert not too many miles away.”
Mary Alice spent most of the first five decades of her life not really knowing what she wanted to be “when she grew up.” Then at 58, it happened!
That’s when Mary Alice realized she wanted to be a newspaper reporter. She worked for a small local paper for ten years before being laid off at 68.
Most people in the same predicament would have just retired. But did I mention Mary Alice loves being a reporter?
“I not only continued being a newspaper reporter, but” says Mary Alice, “four days after being laid off, I had The Grant County Beat — my own local online news source — up and running.”
Overnight she went from employee to small business owner.
That meant needing to tackle things like becoming an LLC, getting financial advice, and finding a good but affordable webmaster.
By far though, the biggest challenge is the same one that dogs all off and on-line publications – generating ad revenue to pay the bills.
There are two things that are getting Mary Alice through this inevitable lean phase typical of the first few years of any business.
First there was the support of friends, some of whom she’s enlisted as unpaid or in her words “pitifully paid” writers.
The other thing that keeps Mary Alice going, “are the wonderful testimonials I receive from friends, as well as strangers, about how my news is ‘the best in town,’” she says, adding, “I thrive on compliments.”
Who doesn’t! In fact, I find central to most of my own clients’ dreams is the desire to somehow make a difference in the lives of others.
Mary Alice found her passion at 58 and then changed course in a big way at 68. Happily for both her and her many readers, the Beat goes on.
“It’s not making me rich,” writes Mary Alice, “but it’s keeping me happy and occupied!”
Your Turn
Do you know what you want to be “when you grow up”? Who do you turn to for support? What spurs you on to push through the tough times?
Share your story now either here or at the Changing Course Fan Page.
