288: What successful professional reinvention looks like in practice - with Valerie Khoo
- S9E288
- 45:17
- December 11th 2024
Look up the word 'eclectic' in the dictionary and there will be a picture there of this week's guest - her name is Valerie Khoo, and when it comes to professional evolution, Valerie is the Queen of Reinvention!
Valerie has who has successfully navigated careers in accounting, PR, journalism, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and the visual arts.
She’s a published author and the founder of the Australian Writers' Centre, which has trained over 100,000 students worldwide since opening its doors in 2005.
Valerie also hosts the popular podcast - So You Want to be a Writer - which has over three million downloads - and, if that wasn’t enough, she was for several years the curator of Sydney's Lunar Festival, which is one of the city's major arts and cultural events.
Valerie’s creative journey took an unexpected turn when she picked up a paintbrush and discovered her passion for visual art.
If you’re keen to better understand what it takes to reinvent yourself professionally - perhaps you’re keen to get out of corporate and do something new, or take on a different project outside of the business you run - if building a portfolio career is on your radar - then you will love this inspiring conversation with Valerie Khoo!
CONCLUSION:
Valerie's story is a testament to the power of curiosity and adaptability in forging a fulfilling and creative career. Her journey encourages us to explore new avenues, embrace lifelong learning, and challenge conventional career paths for personal and professional growth.
VALERIE'S QUOTABLE QUOTES:
“Always give in to your curiosity because for sure it’s leading you somewhere that you’re actually meant to go.”
“It’s never too late. It’s just never too late.”
“Embracing new things and learning new things is so important for your health.”
“I think mentors are really important, and that was something I discovered way too late in life.”
“You can leap. You don’t have to ladder climb.”
CONNECT WITH VALERIE ON INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/valeriekhoo
CRANK THE 3RD: Exploring the entrepreneurial + creative side of life post 50
CRANK THE 3RD is a weekly podcast in which we explore the entrepreneurial and creative side of life post 50.
You've survived the first two professional chapters of your lives - 20s to mid-30s (chapter 1) and mid-30s and through your 40s (chapter 2).
Welcome to the 3rd chapter! By this stage of your professional life, you've seen a lot, done most things, made some cash, expanded your horizons and probably are more comfortable in your skin than at any other time.
But it’s not necessarily all sunshine and roses either. At some stage, many of us reach a point where we ask: “Is that all there is?”
While we have oodles of experience under our belts and are a lot more sure of ourselves and confident in our own abilities, we also live in a fast-paced volatile world.
Technology is ever-changing, and the AI wave has only just begun. A sense of uncertainty is never far away. We know that if we stand still, we run the risk of losing relevance.
No matter how savvy, experienced and connected we are, certain challenges remain.
But on the upside, the number of opportunities staring us in the face is enormous, and unprecedented!
The goal of CRANK THE 3RD is to inspire energised, forward-thinking 50 and 60-somethings to continue to think expansively and creatively about their current situation, and to ponder, plot and plan the exciting road they have ahead of them.
You’ve put in the hard yards: now it’s time to capitalise!
Let’s dive in!
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