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One thing I hear a lot of women lament about is trying to figure out how to reinvent yourself after 50. For some that might mean, What do I want to do for work? For others, they might be looking for a place to volunteer that lights them up. Many women are just struggling to discover their purpose, professionally or personally.
I have a slightly out-of-the-box idea for you today that can help you reinvent yourself after 50. It can help you consider what you are naturally good at doing and use that to reinvent yourself after 50. If you come from the corporate world, you might already be familiar with this book. If you don’t, then you probably have not heard anything about it. Either way I think it can be a fantastic resource for self discovery. So what exactly is this tool that can help with self-discovery after 50?
The book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath is more than a book about job performance. It’s about understanding what makes you tick, how you naturally thrive, and how to leverage your unique strengths in all areas of your life. One thing I love about it is the focus on leveraging your strengths rather than trying to ‘fix’ your weaknesses.
Originally developed by the Gallup Organization under the guidance of Don Clifton, an industrial psychologist often called the father of strengths psychology, the assessment helps identify your top strengths from 34 possible talent themes.While there’s no shortage of tools for self-discovery, StrengthsFinder 2.0 offers a performance-based assessment that goes beyond identifying different personality types to reveal your top strengths in action.
The idea is simple: instead of spending energy trying to improve the areas that don’t come naturally to you, why not focus on what you do well? The StrengthsFinder book comes with an access code for an online assessment that reveals your top strengths and provides strategies for using them effectively.
How StrengthsFinder 2.0 can help you reinvent yourself after 50
For many women over 50, life is shifting. Maybe you’re retiring from a long career, starting a business, volunteering, or focusing more on personal growth. Or maybe you long to do these things, but don’t know where to start. This is the perfect time to embrace your strengths rather than dwell on what you “should” improve. StrengthsFinder 2.0 gives you a personalized roadmap to lean into your talents. Unlike other well-known tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or DISC assessment, which focus on personality traits, CliftonStrengths emphasizes your innate talents and provides practical applications for using them in different situations.
The insights from your personalized report apply just as much to personal life as they do to professional development. The assessment provides a common language to understand yourself and build stronger relationships with team members, family, and friends.Understanding the domains of CliftonStrengths helps you see how your talents can be applied to build strong relationships and navigate different perspectives in your post-career life.
Here’s a few examples of how you can use it beyond the office to help reinvent yourself after 50:
- Relationships & Friendships: Knowing your strengths helps you communicate more effectively and understand how you show up in relationships. Are you the “Empathy” type, always tuned into others’ emotions? Or do you have the “Activator,” strength meaning you’re the one who gets things started?
- Volunteering & Giving Back: If you’re looking to engage in volunteer work, your strengths can guide you toward roles that are energizing rather than draining.
- Hobbies & Passions: Whether you want to start a blog (like I did!), join a book club, or take up painting, understanding your strengths helps you choose activities that align with what naturally excites and fulfills you.
- Navigating Life Transitions: From becoming an empty nester to relocating or exploring new interests, StrengthsFinder 2.0 helps you recognize how you best adapt to change.
My Own Post-50 Journey
While this all sounds great in theory, you might be wondering how StrengthsFinder 2.0 actually works in real life. Let me share how this approach transformed my own post-50 journey.I had been retired for a year when the feeling of wanting more started to come up. I did all of the ‘retirement things’ you are supposed to do. I savored my abundant free time. Staying up late and sleeping in became my new normal. Pickleball lessons enticed me to join a league. I rounded out my retired routine by traveling to five states and finding a volunteer gig. But I was still bored. The side hustle I had started was proving to be more of a hassle than lucrative part-time work. I wanted the mental engagement that working could bring, but I craved something new, something that would both challenge me and light me up. Something that wasn’t tied to a job description or a client’s needs.
My Journey From Retirement to Reinvention
By leaning into my strengths—Learner and Strategic—I discovered my best self and found new ways to apply these talents.
I decided to start a blog. I love to write, I love to work on websites, and I enjoy things that are a little bit creative and a little bit technical. I also didn’t want to try to sell anything or find clients. The process of learning blog creation combined with my ability to develop plans is helping me unlock my full potential in this new endeavor.
While I had plenty of experience with managing websites, the idea of building a full WordPress site all by myself felt like too much to take on. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I leaned into what us Learners do best – I researched, read, and explored my options. If you’ve ever wanted to start a blog but felt intimidated by the setup, I found a service that made it incredibly easy and inexpensive for me. They handled all the backend stuff I don’t find as interesting. If you have ever thought about starting a blog, let me know, and I’ll share my referral link to this service.With the technical aspect under control, I turned to my Strategic strength to come up with a plan. I didn’t just want to write—I wanted to create something that would grow and serve a purpose. I mapped out my content categories, thought about who I wanted to reach, and built a plan before I ever hit ‘publish’ on my first post.
By leaning into the Learner and Strategic strengths, I embraced the challenge of starting a blog, and was able to learn what I needed to know to get started. Instead of just trying to write something everyday, I used my Strategic strength to create a big picture plan that keeps me motivated.
Reinventing yourself after 50 doesn’t mean starting from scratch—it means using what you already know in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re thinking about starting a blog, finding volunteer work, or exploring new hobbies, understanding how to reinvent yourself after 50 begins with recognizing your strengths and leveraging them effectively.
CliftonStrengths Examples and How to Use Them To Reinvent Yourself After 50
Understanding your strengths and how to leverage them is a powerful asset as you pivot in the second half of life. Each of the CliftonStrengths themes falls into one of four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. Understanding which domains your strengths fall into can reveal the hidden layers of your own unique strengths. For example, those with the Connectedness theme often excel at bringing together new people and ideas, while those with the Empathy theme naturally tune into the feelings of other people, making them exceptional mentors.Let’s explore how several strengths that are particularly common among Gen X and Boomer women can guide your reinvention journey, helping you recognize patterns you might see in yourself.
Responsibility: The Commitment to Reinvention
People high in Responsibility feel a strong sense of duty and follow-through, which can be a game-changer when exploring new paths. If you decide to start something—whether it’s learning a new skill, joining a volunteer board, or launching a side hustle—you’ll take ownership and see it through.
Examples:
- Volunteering: You might commit to leading a project at a nonprofit rather than just showing up occasionally. You thrive in roles where others count on you, such as organizing community events or mentoring younger professionals.
- Hobbies: If you take up painting, gardening, or writing, you’ll likely set goals—maybe committing to a daily sketch or a local garden project—and hold yourself accountable to make progress.
Potential Pitfall:
You may feel hesitant to try something new if you’re unsure you can commit long-term. Try reframing it: What if reinvention is about small experiments instead of lifelong commitments?
Relator: Finding Meaningful Connections in New Pursuits
If Relator is one of your strengths, you don’t just want to do something new—you want to connect with others in a meaningful way while doing it. Your reinvention will likely be fueled by relationships, whether it’s forming deep friendships in a book club, finding a mentor, or working with a team in a volunteer role.
Examples:
- Volunteering: You might thrive in one-on-one roles like mentoring, hospice care, or working with animals at a shelter, where you can build strong bonds.
- Hobbies: You’ll likely enjoy a hobby that involves a social element—such as a hiking group, a writing circle, or a community choir—where relationships deepen over time.
Potential Pitfall:
Solo pursuits (like writing a novel or learning an instrument alone) may not feel as fulfilling. Look for ways to integrate social connection into these activities—join a writing group, take music lessons, or start a blog to engage with others online.
Learner: The Thrill of Exploring New Paths
Reinvention is all about curiosity, and Learners thrive on discovering new things. If this is your strength, you’re naturally drawn to taking classes, reading, and diving into subjects that intrigue you. The beauty of reinvention is that it doesn’t have to be about mastery—it’s about the joy of the process.
Examples:
- Volunteering: You may be drawn to organizations where you can gain new skills, like volunteering at a historical society and learning archival work, or taking training courses to become a crisis counselor.
- Hobbies: You might experiment with different creative outlets—trying pottery, taking an online course on photography, or learning a new language just for the fun of it.
Potential Pitfall:
Because you love the learning process, you might move on before fully applying what you’ve learned. To avoid feeling scattered, set small action goals—for example, I’ll write five blog posts before moving on to another subject.
Strategic: Charting the Course for Reinventing Yourself After 50
If you have Strategic as a strength, you don’t just leap into something new—you analyze possibilities and create a roadmap for success. Reinvention feels exciting when you can envision where you’re headed and make a plan to get there.
Examples:
- Volunteering: You may find joy in helping an organization improve its processes—whether it’s designing a better fundraising strategy, streamlining volunteer recruitment, or advising a nonprofit on growth.
- Hobbies: Instead of randomly picking up a new hobby, you’ll likely research the best way to approach it, whether that’s mapping out a plan for learning guitar or systematically exploring different travel destinations.
Potential Pitfall:
Overthinking. You might analyze options so much that you delay taking action. Sometimes, the best strategy is just starting—you can adjust the plan as you go.
Empathy: Finding Purpose Through Connection
People with Empathy thrive when their work (paid or unpaid) impacts others in a meaningful way. You have a deep understanding of people’s emotions, making you a natural at roles that involve support, encouragement, and care.Even in volunteer settings, knowing your strengths improves team dynamics and conflict resolution, as you better understand how your talents complement others.
Examples:
- Volunteering: You might be drawn to roles where you support people through difficult times—such as working with hospice, volunteering at a crisis hotline, or coaching caregivers of elderly parents.
- Hobbies: Creative hobbies that involve storytelling, music, or self-expression (like journaling, songwriting, or acting) may feel fulfilling, as they allow you to channel emotions in a powerful way.
Potential Pitfall:
You may absorb too much emotional weight from others. If reinvention involves helping people, be mindful of your energy levels and set boundaries.
Take the First Step to Reinvent Yourself After 50
If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about your next chapter after 50, StrengthsFinder 2.0 could be the compass you need. Instead of focusing on what you “should” be doing, this assessment helps you build on what already makes you exceptional. Pairing this book with a regular journaling habit can supercharge your personal growth and unlock deeper insights.
Ready to discover your strengths? Pick up a copy of StrengthsFinder 2.0 using this link and take the assessment. The clarity you gain might be exactly what you need to move forward with confidence.
I’d love to hear from you! Have you taken the StrengthsFinder assessment before? Share your top strengths in the comments and how they’ve guided your journey. Or, if you’re feeling stuck in your effort to reinvent yourself after 50, tell me what’s holding you back—sometimes naming the obstacle is the first step to overcoming it.
Remember, reinventing yourself after 50 isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about bringing the best of who you already are into your next adventure.