Midlife Circus: Gen X Reinvention

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What does it actually take to start consulting in midlife? Rob and Brent go a layer deeper than their earlier conversation on earning income in your next chapter, breaking down the foundational work most people skip — purpose, product, and market — and the six practical steps to launch your own consulting, advisory, or coaching practice. Drawing from Brent's 20+ years as a consultant and Rob's recent experience building his advisory business, they cover billing rates, marketing, entity structure, and the core mindset shift that changes everything: you are the product.

 Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The mindset shift from employee to consultant
• The difference between consulting, coaching, and advisory work
• How to define purpose, product, and market
• Path selection — independent, platform, or consulting firm
• How to set billing rates and avoid underselling yourself
• Marketing materials and digital presence that actually work
• Why your first client matters more than the perfect setup

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What if retirement isn't really just a finance problem? Finance is the part most people plan for. It's the four others — relationships, health, purpose, and adventure — that quietly reshape everything. Rob and Brent walk through all five: test-driving your spending before the leap, inventorying the relationships that will and won't survive, building health habits while you still have structure, giving yourself room to find purpose again, and writing the adventure lists you've been putting off. The episode they wish someone had handed them before they walked out the door.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• Test-driving your retirement lifestyle before you leave
• Why work relationships disappear overnight
• Building health habits before the paycheck stops
• The identity shift and the case for a real break
• Why adventure lists are a transition plan in disguise
• Plan Z as the fallback that frees you up

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At 52, Sarah Hager stepped away from a 30-year corporate career to take a midlife sabbatical she never planned for. Rob and Brent sit down with Sarah to talk about the events that pushed her to walk away, what she learned in two years of travel, rest, and creative exploration, and how she eventually came back to work on her own terms. It's a grounded, honest look at what a midlife career break can actually look like — the emotional side, the financial bridge, and the quiet confidence that comes from finding yourself again.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website
• Sarah’s Etsy Shop – Hernage Creek Design

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• What prompted Sarah to step away from a 30-year career at 52
• The emotional side of taking a midlife sabbatical
• How to bridge the financial gap between working and full retirement
• Rediscovering yourself in the quiet after stepping away
• Unlocking creativity through a print-on-demand Etsy business

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What does it take to push past your own limits in midlife — and why does it matter? Brent and Rob unpack their own versions of Epic, from Rob’s 250-mile Cocodona race and his breakthrough at mile 170, to Brent’s 18-hour Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim and the clarity it brought during a hard season of life. Everybody’s Epic looks different. This one is about why taking on something hard — a race, a trip, a business, a book — might be exactly what this chapter of life is asking you to do.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• What “Epic” really means in midlife
• Why big challenges give you what ordinary life can’t
• Rob’s breakthrough at mile 170 of Cocodona
• The shift from accomplishment to meaning
• How community makes the hard things possible
• Travel, adventure, and learning to trust the guide
• Finding the version of Epic that fits your life

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What happens when the paycheck stops and you need to start funding life from what you’ve built? Brent and Rob explore the emotional and financial side of retirement distribution planning, including the 4% rule, bucket strategies, annuities, taxes, and the value of working with a professional to navigate the options.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The emotional side of no longer receiving a paycheck
• How withdrawal planning works in retirement
• The pros and cons of the 4% rule, bucket strategy, and annuities
• Why professional guidance can matter in retirement planning
• How taxes and withdrawal timing can shape your retirement income

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What happens when the college drop-off is over and the house gets quiet? Rob and Brent talk honestly about kids leaving for college, the emotions that come with the empty nest, and how this transition can reshape family life, identity, and what comes next.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The empty nest transition
• Kids leaving for college
• College drop-off and the emotions that follow
• Changing parent-child communication
• Family identity and shifting household rhythms

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In this episode, Brent and Rob sit down with Dr. Dennis Lipton to break down the longevity fundamentals that matter in midlife. They cover the habits that compound over time—sleep, exercise, nutrition, metabolic health, and community—plus how to think about biomarkers and prevention without getting overwhelmed. It’s practical, grounded, and full of real-world perspective on how to stay strong, sharp, and independent for the long haul.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website
• Dr. Dennis Lipton (Website)

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• Why longevity fundamentals matter in midlife
• How sleep supports long-term health and recovery
• How strength training helps preserve muscle and independence as we age
• How nutrition choices can improve health span and metabolic health
• How biomarkers can guide smarter prevention and earlier action
• Why community and purpose play a real role in aging well

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Explore the power of micro-adventures, backyard adventures, and simple travel with Rob and Brent. In this episode, they share how spontaneous outings, nearby day trips, and easy adventure planning can spark curiosity, strengthen relationships, and bring more excitement to everyday life. From childhood bike rides and underground forts to coffee shops, caves, and overnight getaways, this conversation shows how small adventures and personal exploration can lead to real personal growth. If you’ve been feeling stuck in routine, this episode offers practical inspiration to help you rediscover spontaneity, connection, and the joy of trying something new.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• Why spontaneity matters in micro-adventures
• How to find and plan micro-adventures close to home
• How local exploration can spark growth and strengthen relationships
• Using local insight to uncover hidden gems
• Ideas for half-day, single-day, and overnight adventures

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What does giving back look like in midlife? In this episode, Brent and Rob talk about how service often shifts from something we admire to something we feel called to do. They explore the different ways people can support nonprofits through time, experience, relationships, and financial resources, and why local community impact can feel especially powerful. As part of this year’s global Podcast-a-thon, they also highlight The Cycle Effect, a Colorado nonprofit creating brighter futures for young women through mountain biking, mentorship, and access to the outdoors.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website
• The Cycle Effect
• Podcast-a-thon

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• Midlife philanthropy and the shift from achievement to contribution
• Time, experience, relationships, and resources as ways to give back
• Volunteering and using professional expertise to support nonprofits
• Donor-advised funds and strategic charitable giving
• The power of local community impact
• The Cycle Effect and its work supporting girls through mountain biking

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In this episode, Brent and Rob explore one of the biggest hidden barriers to your next great act: truly understanding your personal expenses. From the “one-off” costs that somehow show up every year to the money stories we carry from childhood, they unpack why avoidance makes finances feel more complicated than they need to be. This isn’t about budgeting or restriction — it’s about clarity. By revisiting the two numbers — what you spend and what you have — they explain how getting honest with your annual spending can simplify your financial life and create real optionality for what comes next.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack  
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website
• The Psychology of Money — Morgan Housel

(This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links—at no extra cost to you.)

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The gap between what you think you spend and what you actually spend can be meaningful — and that gap shapes what you believe is possible.
• “One-off” expenses rarely stay one-off — they’re part of the rhythm of life.
• Avoidance is what makes personal finances feel heavy and complicated. Clarity simplifies the story.
• This isn’t about budgeting. It’s about truth.
• Simplifying your accounts — both expenses and assets — can give you a clearer, calmer view of your financial picture.
• The money stories you carry quietly influence how you earn, save, and spend.
• When you know your numbers, you stop guessing — and that’s where optionality begins.