Who Are You Without Your Job Title? Reinventing Yourself in Midlife with Marianne DeMello-Smith
What happens when the career you've built for decades is no longer the life you want? For years, Marianne DeMello-Smith poured herself into her corporate career. She built relationships, developed leadership skills and created an identity around the work she did. But after organizational changes and a growing disconnect between her career and her personal priorities, she found herself facing a question she hadn't expected. Who am I without my job? In this episode of Casa De Confidence, I sit down with my friend and fellow New England podcaster Marianne DeMello-Smith, creator of Message in the Middle , to talk about what it really means to reinvent yourself in midlife. Marianne shares what happened when she stepped away from her longtime career and intentionally took six months to figure out what came next. We talk about the fear of losing your identity, the importance of transferable skills and why the experiences you've collected throughout your life are more valuable than you might realize. We also explore the habits that helped Marianne make lasting changes to her health, why she's abandoned all-or-nothing thinking and how she's learned to create a life that better reflects her priorities. And yes, I share my own slightly disastrous return to roller skating, which turned into a surprisingly useful lesson about being willing to become a beginner again. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when Marianne explains why she wants her grandchildren to be able to watch her podcast long after she's gone. For her, reinvention is about the life she's living now and the example she's leaving behind. What You'll Hear Why leaving a longtime corporate career can feel like losing part of yourself How Marianne used a six-month career break to reconnect with what mattered Why your professional skills don't disappear when you change direction A simple childhood reflection exercise to rediscover what brings you joy What my roller-skating experience taught me about starting over Why being uncomfortable is sometimes necessary for personal growth How Marianne moved away from all-or-nothing thinking about healthy habits What work-life balance actually looks like when your priorities change How vision boards and regular self-reflection can keep you connected to your goals Why small, courageous steps matter more than dramatic reinvention The legacy Marianne hopes to leave her grandchildren One question every woman should ask herself in midlife Whether you're considering a career change, navigating an unexpected transition or simply wondering what else might be possible, Marianne's story is a reminder that your next chapter can begin right where you are. 🔗 Connect with Marianne Website: https://www.messageinthemiddle.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/106193706/admin/dashboard/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847 I want to hear your thoughts about the show and this episode. Text us here... Support the show Casa De Confidence is a podcast for women navigating midlife reinvention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Hosted by Julie DeLucca-Collins, the show explores confidence, sustainable business success, visibility, authority building, and aligned growth for women entrepreneurs ready to lead boldly and live intentionally. Through real conversations and practical insights, listeners gain clarity, strengthen confidence, and develop strategies to expand their impact, voice, and opportunities. Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends! Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review. For more about me and what I do, check out my website . If you’re looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to explore if you’d be a good fit for one of my coaching programs. Follow Julie DeLucca-Collins on Instagram at @julie_deluccacollins






