In Episode 2 of our I Used to Be Somebody podcast, Carl talks with best-selling novelist Moira McGarvey Black. Right away her energy and joy for life are apparent. It’s all about changing careers without fear no matter how old you are—and never looking back.
After a lucrative sales career with Conde Nast in NYC, (working for GQ, Allure, Lucky, etc.) she jumped on board a division called Conde.net. The Internet was new and she recognized it as a game-changer, becoming their National Sales Director. Moira then pivoted, becoming an executive recruiter so she could work from home when her children were young. She tells Carl a secret to her success has always been to make choices that serve your purpose.
Ten years later, McGarvey Black decided to pursue her passion and a new career as a writer. She had always loved writing and had been writing for herself. She would write, show her husband and then put it away in a drawer. Moira eventually realized she could just go for it. Three best-selling novels later, (psychological thrillers about searching for the real truth), Moira’s fourth novel is a romantic comedy—more proof about her drive to do new things. She is working on fifth and sixth novels now.
3 key takeaways from Episode 2 with Moira McGarvey Black:
Keep your goals realistic and attainable. If you are 65 years old, becoming a Bolshoi ballerina would not be realistic. Think about what talents and skills you have honed throughout the years that could be an advantage in some new way.
Whenever you try something new, expect rejection and then keep going. Moira still has the 177 rejection letter she received when trying to publish her first book. “The ones who succeed are the ones who don’t give up.”
Pay attention to the “whispers.” (From the Maya Angelou quote “Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes life.”)
Moira puts it best: “I just want to keep going and doing new things!” This is exactly what living the good life in (un)retirement is all about.
For the full interview, listen to I Used to be Somebody, episode #2 with Moira McGarvey Black. For listening details go to our website!
To learn more about Moira, visit her website!
Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the I Used to Be Somebody weekly blog.
