By Lisa Beauchamp
As I approach 59, I find myself reflecting on where life has taken me.
I’ve worked overseas – Bermuda, Dubai, the Cayman Islands, Spain – and had opportunities many only dream of. I spent over 30 years doing work I genuinely loved. Although my personal life wasn’t without its challenges including two marriages that ended in divorce; each taught me lessons I carry forward.
It was my career that gave me fulfilment, a strong sense of identity, and a clear purpose in life. Add to that two wonderful parents who always supported and loved me unconditionally, and I truly feel blessed beyond words. Because, at the end of the day, family is everything, isn’t it?
Here’s what I regret: believing in the idea of a work family.
I Completely Believed in It
I joined a company in June 1994 and stayed over 30 years. It was where I grew up professionally, taking on responsibility and trust. I loved the job, the people, the sense of belonging.
Loyalty was expected and freely given. The phrase “we’re like a family here” wasn’t just said, it was lived. Or so I thought.
I believed that if you worked hard, stayed loyal, and gave your best years to a company, that loyalty would matter.
I was wrong.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
In January 2025, after more than three decades of service, I received the call: my role was no longer required. I understood the reasons: the company was struggling, salaries were being reviewed, senior roles were being cut.
But understanding the logic doesn’t remove the pain.
Thirty years of dedication boiled down to a line on a spreadsheet – a number to cut for the bottom line.
And then came the silence.
People I’d worked alongside for years didn’t reach out. I’d like to believe they cared but for many, showing support obviously felt unsafe. If it could happen to me, it could happen to them, so keeping their heads down felt like the safer option.
And in a painful twist of irony, some of the colleagues who did kindly reach out before I left, who wished me well privately, were themselves made redundant months later.
Reality hit home: when the going gets tough, the work family disappears.
When Work Becomes Your Identity
Like many of my generation, my career wasn’t just something I did, it was who I was.
I worked through illness. Answered emails from bed. Taking time off always needed a reason.
I had outsourced my security and self-worth to my employer.
Ten weeks before my redundancy, my dad passed away. He had always warned me:
“While you work for someone else, you’ll never get a thank you.”
He was right.
The Space After the Storm
Yet, suddenly, I had time.
No meetings. No deadlines. No constant pressure. No team to manage.
At first, it felt strange. But slowly, it became something else: freedom.
I began asking myself questions I hadn’t in years:
- What am I actually good at?
- What do I want?
- What kind of life do I want now?
At 58, living in Spain, my options felt increasingly limited
My background was in print media, and locally there were very few roles that matched my experience. The work that did exist demanded digital skills I hadn’t yet fully developed.
Remote roles were fiercely competitive. Local roles required strong Spanish. The gap between my experience and the market’s expectations felt very real.
At the same time, I watched friends in the UK, all capable, experienced women, apply for job after job. CVs sent. Applications completed. Interviews hoped for.
Mostly, they were met with silence. Rejections followed. Younger candidates were chosen instead.
It forced an uncomfortable question:
Who will employ me when I’m nine years from retirement?
That’s the harsh reality many of us face.
Choosing a Different Path
I made a promise to myself: From now on, my future is mine to shape. I refused to put my future in anyone else’s hands again.
With the support of my partner, John, I I explored a new way of working. I set out to master the digital skills I lacked and combined them with my existing strengths in sales, marketing, and leadership, to chart a path that felt right for me.
I met people who weren’t waiting to be chosen by an employer. These were like- minded people creating their own income, people seeking autonomy and control.
It was daunting and empowering.
I didn’t need to reinvent myself. I needed to change my mindset.
The Lesson I Want to Share
The work family doesn’t exist the way we’re taught to believe. Employment is a transaction. Mutually beneficial until it isn’t.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care or take pride in your work, but never confuse employment with safety, or loyalty with protection.
You are responsible for:
- Yourself
- Your skills
- Your future
- Your income
If you give your identity to an employer, you risk disappointment, not because people are cruel, but because the employment system is impersonal.
Life Outside Employment
There is life outside employment which is a term you’ll hear more and more.
There’s also “income outside employment.” It means you don’t need a boss or a job to feel secure. Your skills and experience become the foundation for income that supports both your lifestyle and ambitions, opening the door to greater freedom and fulfillment.
I’m not here to preach, just to share from experience: I’ve lived it, survived it, and grown stronger.
If you’ve been made redundant, or you’re feeling overlooked, or you’re burning out trying to prove your worth – I understand. Believe me, you’re never too old to start something new; you have incredible value and so much more to give.
Real security comes from trusting yourself.
I’d like to believe my lovely dad would be proud. He always used to say to me:
“Stop working so hard. Start living.”
I listened to Dad and, subsequently, I’ve found my path forward.
Take Your First Step
You’ve read my story, and maybe it sounds familiar. Whether you’ve been made redundant, overlooked, or just feel ready for a change, know this: your experience, skills, and wisdom are more valuable than ever.
It’s never too late to explore new ways to earn, grow, and design a life that reflects your priorities, not someone else’s. Start small. Learn new skills. Test ideas. And slowly, step by step, create income that gives you freedom, purpose, and confidence.
If you’re ready to take that first step, discover practical strategies and guidance for building income outside traditional employment at Goreinvent.com. You don’t need to wait. You can start today – stronger, wiser, and in control of your next chapter.
