rocket50 Member Stories featuring Nancy Paris

For this edition of the rocket50 Member Stories, we are pleased to highlight rocket50 member, Nancy Paris.  

We caught up with Nancy, whose passion for connection and networking has helped propell her through many career changes over the years. Break out your journal, you're going to want to jot down her incredible advice for career building.

What is your age, and what do you like most about your age?

At age 57, the first thing I did was undergo a self-audit and ask myself the following questions?

• Why am I doing the work I’m currently doing?
• Am I happy working within my current industry?
• Am I feeling stuck with what I’m doing now? If so, is it because I’m actually burned-out?
• Do I give my power away and listen to what others say my career should be instead of paying attention to my own voice within?
• What type of leader am I capable of becoming?  Or, would I prefer being an individual contributor? Or, becoming an independent contractor?
• What’s standing in my way of becoming this person and maximizing my earning potential?

My premise was...I cannot transform a company; make an individual contribution; or decide to become an independent contractor without first transforming myself. And a big part of transforming myself is hearing what my true-self is saying to me.

My motto: Give myself permission to prioritize the career that brings me joy, creativity, and connection.

What are you most thankful for when it comes to your career path and journey?

I’m thankful for surrounding myself with colleagues who were smarter and wiser than me. I love learning from inspiring ‘thought leaders’ within an industry. Because I too, wanted to make an impact and be an influencer. And should I fail in a career -- for whatever reason -- my attitude was always...How can I learn to be grateful for the experience?

How did you identify that you needed to change careers, what was the most helpful resource during this time?

After graduation from college, I became a Secondary School Educator. I was earning half what many of my friends in the corporate world were earning. Several years passed and I realized I wasn’t making enough to support my retirement goals. And I came to the conclusion that changing careers was the most obvious and smartest move to make. 

In those days, LinkedIn and Social Media were nonexistent. So, my most helpful tool to initiate a career change was simply the telephone landline -- so I could make networking calls.

My resource? Current friends and peers who were already in the corporate world. All were kind enough to help me apply to jobs within their respective companies. And facilitate interviews directly with the hiring Directors or Managers.

Sometimes, I’d use a Headhunter. But 95% of the time my success came from networking with people I already knew. All were top performers at their respective organizations. In turn, they initiated an employee referral to their hiring teams.

What type of jobs was I looking for? Because my superpower is connecting with people. And with an education/teaching background, Business Development and/or Marketing Communications felt like a good fit. It turns out, I was very fortunate to be offered Business Development opportunities with large Human Resources consulting firms. My target clients were Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies. 

I remained in Business Development for 13 years. And later, switched to Marketing Communications where I enjoyed writing copy for organizations that helped convert prospects to clients.  This career path lasted 11 years. 

Now, I’m retired, but still working --- albeit with a different mind-set. My purpose is no longer about making an impact in my industry or earning money for retirement. But, it’s about giving back. And keeping myself young and active. 

For example, in 2022/23 I worked as a Guest Services Associate at one of the top 100 attractions in the USA called the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens located in Palm Desert, California. It was a privilege working with wild animals and helping guests enjoy the experience.

As of 2023/24, I’m working as a Concierge for a luxury, private country club in Indian Wells, California. I’m helping club members enjoy all the amenities a country club has to offer -- golf courses, fitness centers, luxury spa treatments, swimming pools, and tennis & pickle ball courts.

I’m having so much fun. And plan on staying in “retirement jobs” until my body can no longer handle the physical demands that are sometimes required. 

As long as I’m still able to connect with people and make a difference in their lives, I’ll never retire!

What was the greatest help to you during your career transition?

Listening to my inner voice. Trusting my inner knowing about what career path is right for me. I imagined an older, wiser part of myself – my higher self -- and asked this part what’s in my highest good for my career. I was surprised about the answers I received that brought me relief.

I also confided in, and shared, my career desires with former colleagues who were now with other organizations. As I mentioned earlier, I was most productive networking with former colleagues. And through them, I was able to secure interviews with their respective organizations. Eventually, I was offered positions that were a good fit for myself and the organization.

What advice would you give to someone in a career change?

Grab a note pad and write the following:
1. Make a list of everything you CAN DO in a career!
2. Then make a list of everything you’re WILLING TO DO in a career (For example: are you willing to work more than a 40-hour week? Willing to commute more than an hour to work? Willing to travel outside your country of origin? etc. etc.)
3. Now take both lists and determine if you’re truly a FIT for a career opportunity you’re considering.

Focus on a career that helps you at being ‘better’ at what you love to do. Versus being ‘good’ at what you love to do.
Make sure your retirement plans aren’t at risk.  With the worldwide economy in such a volatile state amid high inflation and stock market uncertainty, your 401(k) or IRA — and your retirement itself — could be at risk. 
Sometimes you have to let go of the career you have planned, so you can accept the one that is waiting for you. Trust your instincts. Give yourself permission to make a bold career move – the one that is waiting.

What else would you like to share about your journey?

During my career, I always surrounded myself with high achievers and top performers who worked with integrity. And were trustworthy. If they were successful, I knew I would be too!

Working with a cohesive, productive team was also an important characteristic – with the goal of creating an edge on our competitors. 

I prioritized looking for a corporate culture that balanced hard work and fun. If the team chemistry wasn’t apparent, I sometimes moved on to another organization. Though a voluntary move from one organization to another was rare, I remained in the same career -- always striving to be ‘better’ at what I love to do.

Love reading rocket50 Member Stories? Check out more below:
Purvi Shah
Sabrina Sourjah
Nancy Paris
Molly Davis
Stephen Strauss