From Burnout to Business: A Midlife Reinvention That Resonates

Jul 29

If you're a woman in your 50s or 60s leaving a long corporate career and asking, “Now what?”, you’re in good company.

The pull toward starting your own business at this life stage isn’t just about building income—it’s about building legacy. Meaning. Authenticity. But here’s a truth most business coaches won’t tell you:

You can’t build a purpose-driven business without first checking in with your purpose.

This powerful reminder came through loud and clear in the latest Grey Matters Podcast episode, with my guest Mike Gingrich. He shares his real, raw journey from corporate burnout and business failure to life as a digital nomad and embodiment-based business coach in Ecuador.

Give it a listen - it’s a wake-up call for second act entrepreneurs to slow down, do the deeper work, and finally build a business that aligns with who you are—not just what you used to do.

When Everything Cracks Open: A Midlife Pivot Story

“I turned 50 right before COVID hit,” Mike shared. “Then came divorce, business failure, and this big question—who am I now?”

Like so many professionals facing a career change after 50, Mike didn’t just need a new job. He needed to rediscover himself.

Sound familiar?

For people leaving corporate to start a business, the external shift is only half the story. Underneath are quieter, often unspoken questions:

Who am I without the title?
What if I fail... again?
What if I don’t even know what I want anymore?

Mike’s response? Slow down. Then listen.

You Can’t Rush Clarity (Even if You’re Ready to “Get Going”)

In a world obsessed with productivity and “overnight success,” Mike offers a refreshing (and necessary) perspective:

Don’t jump straight into strategy. First, get clear on your patterns.

Most midlife men and women transitioning into coaching or consulting go straight for the tangibles: building a website, choosing a business model, hiring a VA. But this skips the most important step.

“People are pivoting fast,” Mike says. “They’re jumping to the plan—without pausing to look at why they left in the first place.”

Why did you leave?

Burnout? A lack of meaning? Being passed over, undervalued, or worn out by urgency culture?

If you don’t identify those pain points, you’ll carry them into your next business. That’s how burnout sneaks in—even when you’re “doing what you love.”

Slowing Down Is a Strategy (Yes, Even for High Achievers)

In his coaching work, Mike starts with three things:

What didn’t work in your last role?
How is your body responding to stress now?
What nervous system patterns are you still carrying?

This is not your typical business blueprint. But it’s exactly what many women need before launching their legacy business.

Because as I mention,

“We only have so much time left. Don’t we want to do something we enjoy?”

Let that sink in.

Dismantling Hustle & Urgency Culture

Those of us in our midlife now didn’t grow up with #softlife mantras or TikToks about nervous system regulation. We were raised on hustle.

Mike calls it out clearly:

“What you learned in corporate doesn’t always serve you in entrepreneurship. You’ve internalized hustle culture and urgency culture—and that has to be unlearned.”

For women 50+ starting online coaching or consulting businesses, this conditioning can be hard to shake:

Guilt for not being “productive”
Fear of slowing down
Impostor syndrome around worth and visibility

But entrepreneurship isn’t about running on fumes. It’s about building something sustainable—and that begins with learning to feel safe when you’re not hustling.

Your Body Tells the Truth (Even When Your Brain Doesn’t)

One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode?

Business stress doesn’t just live in your calendar—it lives in your body.

Mike's own health breakdown, including a shingles outbreak despite being a marathoner, was a wake-up call. He now integrates somatic tools and nervous system education into his coaching—something most entrepreneurs completely overlook.

“Most of us are accustomed to numbing or pushing through,” he said. “But your nervous system is your first alert system.”

He teaches clients to build awareness of their triggers and how to create space between stimulus and response—a critical skill for sustainable leadership and growth.

You need to go beyond mindset and realize our stress is also body-based. It’s foundational for women dealing with the lingering effects of people-pleasing, perfectionism, or performance-driven identity.

From Executive to Thought Leader: Finding Your Flow

Once you’ve slowed down and identified your patterns, that’s when the real branding work can begin.

Not the superficial kind. The kind that aligns with your lived wisdom and present reality.

Personal branding after 50 isn’t always about reinvention—it’s about resonance.
Thought leadership branding means speaking from embodied confidence, not just credentials.
Story-based branding for coaches comes alive when you’ve done the inner work first.

“When you're acting from authenticity, you don't need the dopamine hits. You're already in your flow.”

That’s the energy that draws ideal clients. That’s what separates burnout-driven businesses from legacy businesses.

Mike’s 3-Part Strategy for Career Transition Coaching

If you’re navigating a midlife career pivot and feeling stuck, Mike’s framework is one worth studying—and sharing:

Slow Down

What didn’t work?
Why are you leaving?
What’s unresolved that might follow you into your next venture?

Body + Beliefs

What’s happening in your body right now?
What unprocessed stress or identity patterns are still active?
How do you rebuild resilience from the inside out?

Flow Forward

What aligns with who you are now?
How can your business support your wellness, not sabotage it?
What’s the quiet, authentic vision calling you forward?

Mike often works with clients over 4 months, either online or through immersive retreats in Ecuador, guiding them through this process in a gentle but potent way.

You Don’t Need to Be in Crisis to Get Support

Let’s be real—Mike’s journey involved some serious upheaval. Divorce, business loss, identity unraveling.

But you don’t have to hit rock bottom to benefit from this kind of reflection.

“You don’t have to be in crisis,” he said. “But if you want to avoid another misaligned pivot, you do have to slow down.”

That’s the invitation.

This episode is a must-listen if you're 50+ starting a second act business and want to do it with intention, clarity, and a whole lot more self-compassion.