Phoenix Woman – Second Careers

When I grow up, I’m going to be a… My friend Carole Coles Henry retired after over 20 years of working for the City of Phoenix. My uncle in North Dakota dedicated over 30 years with Northwest Airlines. My friend Ivan Johnson at Cox has tallied up over a quarter of a century in the cable industry here in Arizona. I even have a friend who has been waitressing at the same restaurant for 16 years. It wasn’t long ago that lifetime careers were the goal of every working person. Loyalty, job stability and financial security were treasured and considered more valuable than marrying a “sugar daddy.” Job jumping in your 30s, 40s or 50s would have you viewed as someone very undependable. I look at resumes today, and the applicants feel that two years at the same company shows “staying power.” Not all career changes are voluntary. Life events in the form of forced re-locations, downsizing, family obligations and even divorce will force unexpected career transitions. In the past, both employers and employees valued loyalty and tenure. Today, employers value productivity, and employees value job satisfaction. Terminations, job hopping and career changing by people of all ages is now the norm. Whatever the reason, a time comes when voluntary or unexpected career changes will happen. Meet four career-changing ladies who share insight into their career paths. Name: Sharon Lechter Age: 54 Current Career Title: Entrepreneur in Financial Education Company: Lechter Development Group What was your very first job? My very first job I was a waitress at the Holiday House Restaurant in Orlando, Florida. Unless you count the hundreds of hours I spent working with my father from the age of 10 to clean up rental properties we owned. What was your salary? My salary was around $2/hour plus tips. So I worked hard for tips! From my father, it was a hug and kiss for a job well done. How old were you when you started your first job? I was 15 years old when I started as a waitress. Did you go to college? What was your degree? I attended Florida State University (Go Seminoles!) and my degree was in Accounting. What was your career goal while attending college? I wanted to become a partner in one of the major accounting firms. What was your first career? I started as an accountant with Coopers & Lybrand in Atlanta, Georgia. What was your starting position? Staff Accountant Did you advance your career within this company? Yes, I was on the fast track to promotion to Manager in under 4 years. What were some of the obstacles you encountered in your first career? I was only the fifth woman ever hired by Coopers & Lybrand in the Southeast US, and I worked primarily with small clients in small towns in the Southeast. There was quite a bit of bias against me as a woman, so I worked harder to achieve the same level of success as my male counterparts. It was just part of the job. They didn’t have the term “sexual discrimination” back then; it was just expected if you wanted to succeed … and I wanted to succeed. Also, when I was ready to be promoted to Manager, the partners told me they were afraid to give me the title because it might anger my fellow male accountants. They offered me the pay raise to Manager, without the title. It was never about the money! One of my clients offered me an executive position in a new company he was investing in where I would be able to have an equity interest. It sparked the entrepreneur inside of me, and the rest is history. Did you have a mentor, either within the company or outside of the company? I have always had mentors, both men and women. Surrounding myself with successful people helps motivate me to keep learning new things and serving more people. How many years did you stay in that career? Why did you leave? I stayed a little more than three years, and then the entrepreneurial bug bit me. (And at 25, I thought I knew everything!) I left to join a company where I would have equity ownership. Let’s talk Second Career… What is your current career position? In the early 90s, I started working in financial education, which allowed me to combine my professional training as an accountant and publishing experience with my passion as a parent. With two partners we built The Rich Dad Company into an international success reaching millions of people through financial education. However, in 2007, I made the decision to leave the management of The Rich Dad Company to pursue financial education specifically for children and families. This is where my true passion has directed me. I have founded a new company that is currently working with the Dale Carnegie Company to develop programs to teach young people about money as well as presentation skills. In addition, I have launched a new brand called YOUTHPreneur, which provides financial education for children and their families. How long have you wanted to work in this field?Since 1992, when my oldest child Phillip went off to college as a freshman. By Christmas, he had gotten himself into credit card debt. I was devastated because I thought I had taught him about money. What caused you to make the jump? Was it salary, location, children, or passion? It was true passion. I left a very successful company to follow my passion. How did you go about taking the steps to make the career move? I wanted to develop a program for young people that would teach them presentation skills as well as financial skills. So, I followed my own business principles and found the company best suited to deliver my message, Dale Carnegie, and formed an alliance that benefits their students, their students’ parents, their franchisees, and Dale Carnegie first. If I provide the program that makes them more successful, then I will be successful. The message is more important than the messenger. In addition, I am developing materials under the brand YouthPreneur to teach basic entrepreneurial lessons to young people. If we can ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in our young people, we will all benefit. Did you have to return to college to obtain this new career? Did you have to go through special training? No. What is most gratifying about your second career? When you are “on purpose,” it feels great! What are some lessons that you can share with our PW readers in searching for their Second Career? First, calculate how much time you spend on your career or your business. Then decide that you want to spend this time doing something that makes you happy, and something that contributes to the world. If your choice makes you happy, go for it. If you feel “out of integrity” with what you are doing, that it is not what you truly want to be doing, then have the courage to make a change. I believe if you pursue your passion, or your mission, and make a contribution to society, you will be successful. And, always surround yourself with people who expect the best from you. Their energy and expectations will be contagious. If you could choose one more career in your lifetime, what would you choose? My ultimate goal is to be a true philanthropist – to have the wealth that will allow me to support programs that truly help people improve their lives. It is not about the money; it is about the difference that money could make.