Magic Frank

I read a great Second Rodeo story from England in The Guardian earlier this week. After 35 years of teaching English, Frank Farrell, at age 60, began a second career as Magic Frank, professional magician. Frank had been dabbling in magic as a hobby for decades. But shortly after his retirement from teaching, he performed ten shows at a Harry Potter convention and was paid nearly £2000. It was the first time he’d been paid for performing.

While I’m sure the money was nice, it was about more than an income for Magic Frank. It was a “mark of respect” validation that he was a true professional. “I can genuinely call myself a magician, because people are paying me to do it.”

The story made me smile several times. Here are a few markers of a great Second Rodeo from Frank Farrell’s story.

Self-awareness

While talking to the reporter of the story, Magic Frank was able to connect the dots between what he loved about his first profession with why this new pursuit is so fulfilling. In other words, he knows what he needs to feel satisfied with life.

He shared that he’d done some amateur acting over the years. In the classroom, he also had a flair for the dramatic, and tried to utilize humor as a tool for learning. He’s aware of a personal need for validation but says he doesn’t waste energy “navel gazing” about why that is. “Don’t we all want to feel special?” he asks.

As a mentalist who specializes in card tricks, he loves creating moments where someone’s eyes see something their brain can’t believe. The satisfaction, he says, comes from their response. In both teaching and magic, he loves to create a sense of wonder, which is most often expressed in laughter. He realizes how transformative that a spontaneous laugh can be and strives for that transformation in every magic show.

Self-regulation

After years of having a schedule, Magic Frank’s initial reaction to an unscheduled life was a bit of a shock. But he quickly learned to create his own schedule. He practices card tricks for an hour a day. He schedules up to nine bookings a month. He also schedules the business side of his new endeavor–inquiries, bookings, etc. as needed. That still leaves time for other things that are important to him.

As we’ve discussed recently, a lot of people want to escape the busyness that has defined their primary career. Yet busy is such a normative state that in a vacuum, we often feel the need to fill our days with just about anything. Fighting the urge to let your Second Rodeo fill every nook and cranny of your schedule requires a bit of practice and a willingness to come to terms with things like boredom, at least in the short-term.

Self-confidence

One of the most common challenges at the end of a primary career is a change in how we see ourselves. For most people, work has been a primary source of our identity. We generally receive validation through it. That’s why so many people get discouraged, even depressed when that season comes to an end. “I used to be somebody. Now I’m just another nobody,” said one recent retiree. Frank moved, rather quickly, from his old identity to his new identity. “I started to consider myself a magician, not someone who does a bit of magic on the side.” Creating that new identity is key to maintaining a healthy self-confidence.

Finally, Frank has a healthy attitude about aging and moving into the next season of life. “I have discovered the process of becoming older (to be) quite amazing. I’ve discovered that I am far more self-confident, more relaxed…I am living exactly the type of life I want to live.” When people ask how his retirement is going, he replies, “I’ve always been happy but never happier.”

That’s what I wish for all who read this blog–that no matter how happy you are now, you hold open the possibility that there’s a next chapter than can bring even more happiness.

I’d love to hear your story. Use this link to schedule a free call. Let’s talk about your Second Rodeo soon!

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