Preparing for life's second act
This summer our family traveled to the Wisconsin Dells while on vacation. It's a typical touristy destination with activities for all ages. One of the longstanding attractions is the Tommy Bartlett Show - an outdoor variety show with both water and stage acts. Toward the end of the show Dieter Tasso ambles onto the stage and announces that he is the second best juggler we will be seeing that night. He proceeds to go through a series of tricks built around the use of his tagline: "You like it? I do it again."
Having loved his act, I purchased his 87-page biography (click to view on Amazon) and read it the next morning. Page 65 clarified something about my work and my view of life.
Dieter started performing for the Bartlett Show in 1978 at the age of 44. That was pretty old to be standing on a slack wire stacking teacups and saucers on his head after tossing them from his foot. Tommy Bartlett noted that Dieter was actually quite humorous and told him: "You have the potential to be an unbelievably great comic. My suggestion is to continue to work more on your humorous patter, and your act will survive a lot longer than it would if you only juggle." That comment changed Dieter's life. Reading that comment changed mine. It has the potential to change yours as well.
We saw Dieter perform at the age of 79. He's still juggling and he's still tossing teacups from foot to head, but the reason he was our family's favorite act of the show was his comedy. The man is funny. I watched another family's two disinterested teenage boys react when Dieter took the stage. At first they smiled, then they chuckled, and then they belly-laughed, poking each other and slapping their knees. (See an overview of Dieter's work on YouTube.)
The application is straightforward. We all need a second act.
The day is coming when you won't be able to do what you did in your 40s (for some of my younger readers substitute with "20s"). You will be wiser and, in many ways, have more to offer, but you've got to identify, hone, and execute on the skills that will comprise your second act, allowing you to continue performing far longer.
At Julian Consulting we help our clients prepare for and execute on life's second act. Call TODAY to determine how we can serve you in this process.
