Let me begin by saying that I love what I do here at the Halftime Institute. I know that every day my work is making a difference in the lives of those we serve. People come to us at a critical time in their lives and we help them figure out what’s next for them in a way that allows them to use all of their gifts and talents to finish well. It doesn’t get better than that.
As with all times of change that we go through, there are a lot of questions that arise about this whole halftime phenomenon and what it means. Is halftime a certain age? Is it a certain mindset? Are men more likely than women to go through a season of halftime? Are there specific indicators that can confirm that I’m indeed in this season and that I need to do something about it? What if I don’t want to leave my job?
These questions come up all the time in my conversations with those who are doing their research to try and find answers. As Director of Admissions here at the Institute, it is my privilege (and my second half calling!) to listen to their stories, answer those pressing questions, help them discern if they are in the halftime season, and if our programs are right for them.
I’d like to share with you some brief answers to 5 common questions I hear, in the hope that I can clear up any confusion for you.
Answering 5 Common Questions about Halftime
- Is halftime a certain age? Yes and no. It happens at different ages for different people. As the name suggests, halftime happens around mid-life, but the range can be quite expansive. I’ve spoken to halftimers as young as 35 and we’ve had halftimers come through our program as old as 72. What I can tell you is that the average age of those who enroll is around 50 years old. That’s just an average, though. If you believe that you might be in halftime or heading into it shortly, don’t hesitate to reach out to get your questions answered, no matter your age.
- Is halftime a certain mindset? The best way to answer that is to cite the profile of most of our halftimers who come through the institute. Most have been successful. Many have even moved to the top of the food chain in their careers. But…there’s a smoldering discontent and a restlessness that won’t go away, the idea that there must be more. These people have figured out that money and a lofty position in an organization can’t fix that. There’s a process that works and you’ll have to go through it to find what’s next and to extinguish the smoldering discontent that whispers in your soul.
- Is halftime more for men than for women? Our experience has been that men are not necessarily more likely to go through halftime than women, but until recently we have enrolled more men than women in the Halftime Institute programs. However, this is changing! Over the past year, we’ve seen steadily increasing growth in the number of women who are referred to our program or who find us on their own. In fact, our October 2017 cohort had more women than men. We’re excited to welcome more diversity in gender, ethnicity, and other demographics as it adds to the dynamics of the learning environment.
- Are there specific indicators that can confirm that I’m indeed in this season and that I need to do something about it? It’s interesting. This whole halftime experience can look a lot like middle-aged crazy if you let it. There’s an inexplicable uneasiness that comes along with this season, a rock in your shoe that makes you feel uncomfortable until you stop and address it. My advice: If you think you are in halftime, then you should at least call and start the conversation to get answers.
- What if I don’t want to leave my job? The truth is, more than half of the people who come through our program return to their jobs, albeit with a different mindset and focus. The Halftime process freed them to return to their jobs knowing they had found answers and a certainty that, at least for this moment, this is where they are supposed to be. There’s something very comforting about knowing that.
Please consider this an open invitation: If there’s a question that you have that isn’t addressed above, or if you’d like to discuss one further, please contact me: [email protected]. Let’s talk!
