Midlife isn't a downhill slide. It is a pause, a turning point, and, if you choose it, a launching pad for your most meaningful chapter. Yet too often, women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s get caught in what guest Lisa Schuller calls the midlife holding pattern. Burdened by old identities, societal mandates, and personal ageism, they wait on the sidelines of their own lives, unsure of how to move forward.

In this episode of Embrace the Encore, Marie Wallace sits down with Lisa Schuller, leadership and midlife expansion coach, mentor, and speaker. With over 30 years of experience in HR leadership, thousands of coaching hours, and her own reinvention journey at 50, Lisa brings wisdom and lived experience to the conversation. She shares her Crystal Formula, a seven-part framework that helps women rebalance their lives, rediscover their identity, and align daily choices with what brings joy and meaning.

Lisa also opens up about the fears she faced walking away from a long corporate career, the identity shifts that came with building her coaching practice, and the emotional lessons she learned along the way. Her story is proof that you don't have to have it all figured out to start. Small steps, curiosity, and courage can lead to an encore that feels expansive, vibrant, and aligned.

Tune in to episode 13 of Embrace the Encore and learn how to break free from midlife blockages, embrace your true identity, and cross into a life filled with joy, achievement, and authentic connection.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• What Lisa means by the "midlife holding pattern" and why so many women feel stuck (2:50)
• The societal narratives about aging that make reinvention harder (4:20)
• Why midlife mirrors adolescence and how to use that insight (05:10)
• The biggest internal and external resistances to change (7:20)
• How identity and "personal ageism" keep women small (8:00)
• The Crystal Formula and its seven components: community, redesign, yearnings, structures, thriving, achievement, lifestyle (11:30)
• Why identity is the most transformative piece of the formula (15:30)
• The role of Energy Leadership in shifting perspective and uncovering blockages (18:40)
• Lisa's personal story of leaving HR, facing burnout, and finding coaching (20:40)
• The emotional lessons of showing her sons what's possible (26:40)

Connect with Lisa Schuller:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Let's connect!

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

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