The Second Act: What Faculty Can Learn from Midlife Wisdom
“The middle isn’t the finish line—it’s the launchpad.” — Chip Conley (Learning to Love Midlife)
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Midlife in academia is often treated as a pivot point—either toward administrative roles, toward slowing down, or toward an undefined “what’s next.” But for many faculty and leaders, this phase brings a different kind of question: Who am I becoming next?
In Learning to Love Midlife, Chip Conley reframes this life stage as a “regenerative season”—a time of rewiring, not just retiring. He argues that midlife isn't a crisis or decline; it’s a threshold into renewed purpose, deeper wisdom, and the opportunity to lead in a more meaningful way.
For academic pharmacy professionals who’ve spent decades climbing, contributing, and leading, midlife can bring uncertainty—but also unmatched clarity and opportunity.
Here’s how to embrace midlife as a season of elevation, not erosion—and how to thrive as a late-career faculty member or leader.
1. Reframe Midlife as a Growth Stage, Not a Holding Pattern
Key Idea: Midlife isn’t the beginning of decline—it’s the start of a deeper ascent.
Conley suggests that while society often views midlife as the end of peak productivity, it can actually be the start of your most impactful work. In academic pharmacy, this means shifting from proving to mentoring, from producing to guiding, and from leading alone to lifting others.
Try This:
Ask: What am I no longer striving for—and what do I want to steward instead?
Define legacy not by titles, but by the people and programs you’ve helped grow.
Example:
A former department chair transitions into a faculty mentor role, designing a leadership series for junior colleagues. Their impact expands, even as their formal authority recedes.
2. Let Go of the Myth That Midlife Must Be a Linear Step Down
Key Idea: Reinvention often requires leaving behind roles that once defined you.
Conley calls this “shedding the skin” of old identities. For many late-career faculty, stepping away from leadership or administrative positions feels like a loss. But it can also be a gateway to rediscovery—of creativity, passion, and perspective.
Try This:
Conduct a “career portfolio audit”: What roles are you still doing out of habit, not joy?
Allow yourself to say no to things that no longer align—and yes to what lights you up.
Example:
A longtime academic leader steps down from a dean’s role and launches a consulting and coaching practice, guiding future leaders. What seemed like an exit becomes an elevation.
3. Use Midlife to Become a Modern Elder, Not Just a Senior Member
Key Idea: Wisdom becomes more valuable when shared—especially in uncertain times.
Conley coins the term “modern elder” to describe individuals who bring not only experience but emotional intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to guide younger colleagues. In academia, this translates into faculty who coach, advise, and stabilize through mentorship—not micromanagement.
Try This:
Invite reverse mentoring from early-career faculty or students to stay fresh and connected.
Build intergenerational leadership programs that blend institutional memory with emerging perspectives.
Example:
A seasoned faculty member co-teaches with a junior colleague, intentionally creating space to learn from each other’s strengths—while modeling collaboration and humility.
4. Design a New Definition of Productivity and Impact
Key Idea: Impact in midlife may shift from quantity to quality—and that’s a strength.
Academic culture often measures value in outputs: publications, committees, or grant dollars. But Conley urges readers to consider depth, relationships, and cultural influence as equally powerful markers of contribution.
Try This:
Reflect on what kind of value you now want to create: influence, insight, mentorship, or institutional culture?
Practice slow productivity: doing fewer things with greater presence and intention.
Example:
Instead of chasing multiple research projects, a faculty member focuses on authoring a reflective book on professional identity in pharmacy—contributing lasting thought leadership.
Final Thoughts:
Midlife in academic pharmacy isn’t a professional sunset. It’s a recalibration—a time to release outdated definitions of success and embrace your most meaningful work yet. Whether you're feeling restless, reflective, or ready to pivot, this season isn’t about stepping back. It’s about stepping into your wisdom with intention, generosity, and vision.
Next Steps to Unleashing Your Second Act
Choose executive coaching to catalyze your journey as you navigate reinvention, realignment, and renewed purpose. Whether you’re stepping down, stepping up, or simply stepping back to reflect—EduLead is here to help you level up your second act.