FINDING TRUE NORTH: The Second Act
Starting out on life’s Second Stage (Image: Katie Flanagan)
The "I Wouldn't Start From Here" Problem
It’s akin to the old joke of asking someone for directions and being answered with “Well, I wouldn’t start from here…”.
But "here" is the only coordinate I’ve got.
After 35 years of invoices, spreadsheets, and the rhythmic drum-beat of month-end reporting, the clock has finally wound down on my current role. At 56, I’m standing at a crossroads that isn't on the map I was given in my twenties. I have a tank full of fuel, a compass that’s spinning, and a choice: Do I find another office with a different view of the same car park, or do I finally head North?
Auditing the Soul (Beyond the P&L)
My career has been a masterclass in the traditional: Finances, cash-flow, profits, losses, and the rigid structure of "The Way Things Are Done." But life isn't a balance sheet. Behind the professional exterior, there’s been a backdrop of the real stuff—marriage, raising kids, the diversion of divorce, and the careful and deliberate rebuilding of my own well-being.
I’ve realized that while I’m "blessed" with some financial breathing space, the real luxury isn't the money—it’s the shackle-free thinking it allows. For the first time, the "radical" option isn't just pie in the sky; it’s a viable route.
Taking Stock: What Stays and What Goes?
If I’m going to reinvent myself, I need to know what I’m packing.
I sat down to list what actually makes the needle move for me. It turns out, I’m not just a series of month end management accounts and year-end audits.
The Essentials:
The Movement: Walking, travelling, and the grit of trying to stay fit.
The Noise: Loud gigs, football terraces, and the crackle of a new book or record.
The Vices: Good food, the "backstory" of drink, and a retail habit for things I definitely don’t need.
The Hidden Asset: A long-dormant passion for creative writing.
From Spreadsheets to Sentences
I’ve watched old friends launch books and felt that familiar "could I do that" pull. I remember the spark of writing football blogs for The Width of a Post—the feeling of words landing exactly where they should.
I’m trading "Double-Entry" bookkeeping for a "Second Act" system, replacing numbers with words.
The Destination: North Of Here
So, what is this? It’s not just a blog; it’s an information portal. It’s a space where I’m going to review the world—the books, the travels, the football, and the messy process of personal evolution—through the lens of someone navigating life’s Second Stage.
I’m documenting the re-invention. Not because I have all the answers, but because I know there are others standing at their own "illogical starting points" wondering which way to turn.
