Message the Show

Rob and Brent walked into this episode with no idea what the other was about to commit to. They each named 5 personal challenges for the next 90 days, one for every ring of midlife: finance, relationship, health, purpose, and adventure, and shared them live. The list includes losing twenty pounds, getting back to real planned date nights, joining a Friday golf group of strangers, learning to ride a unicycle, and tracking every meal for ninety days. A working definition of growth in midlife, with the receipts due at the end.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The 5 rings of midlife as a framework for growth
• 10 personal challenges put on the record
• The case against the easy-button challenge
• A 90-day window for real growth in midlife
• The case for public commitments and accountability
• An invitation for listeners to pick their own challenges

Message the Show

Almost everyone has a creative thing they've been thinking about for years but never started. Rob wants to shoot action videos. Brent wants to restore old cars. Other people have pottery, photography, or a book idea sitting in the back of their head. In this episode, Brent and Rob get specific about what it takes to move a creative hobby into a real business in midlife, including the three categories of creative work, a passion-product-marketplace framework, and why most creators undercharge themselves out of the gate. If you've got a creative idea you keep coming back to, this episode is where you find out what to actually do with it.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website
• Mountain Mud Ceramics (creative business mentioned)

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The difference between a creative hobby and a creative business
• Three categories of creative work: physical goods, creative content, and creative services
• How to apply passion, product, and marketplace as a starting framework
• Why most creators underprice themselves out of the gate
• Choosing the right platform without spreading across too many
• Starting small with a minimum viable product
• Playing the long game and resisting the comparison trap

Message the Show

What does it actually take to start consulting in midlife? Rob and Brent go a layer deeper than their earlier conversation on earning income in your next chapter, breaking down the foundational work most people skip — purpose, product, and market — and the six practical steps to launch your own consulting, advisory, or coaching practice. Drawing from Brent's 20+ years as a consultant and Rob's recent experience building his advisory business, they cover billing rates, marketing, entity structure, and the core mindset shift that changes everything: you are the product.

Links, resources, books mentioned:

• Join the Midlife Circus Community on Substack
• Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
• Visit Episode Website

Topics we are covering in this episode:

• The mindset shift from employee to consultant
• The difference between consulting, coaching, and advisory work
• How to define purpose, product, and market
• Path selection — independent, platform, or consulting firm
• How to set billing rates and avoid underselling yourself
• Marketing materials and digital presence that actually work
• Why your first client matters more than the perfect setup