Midlife entrepreneurs aren’t playing by the old rules – and your business strategy shouldn’t either.
In this milestone episode, The Encore Entrepreneur officially becomes The Midlife Business Academy – a podcast designed specifically for business owners in their 50s, 60s and beyond who are building smart, sustainable, purpose-driven businesses that fit their lives now.
Why the change? Because the conversations midlife entrepreneurs need are different:
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You’re not just launching – you’re refining.
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You’re not chasing hustle – you’re creating freedom.
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You’re not looking for gimmicks – you want strategy that respects your experience.
This episode shares the why behind the shift, what’s changing (and what’s not), and how the new direction is built around the realities of growing a business in midlife – when your time, energy, and priorities look a lot different than they did at 30.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
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Why traditional business advice often misses the mark for midlife entrepreneurs
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How the market has shifted—and what that means for your next chapter
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What to expect from the Midlife Business Academy going forward
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Why “I’m not tech-savvy” is not a reason to hold back
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What kind of freedom midlife business owners actually want
Whether you’ve been building for years or just getting started again, you’re not too late. You’re right on time.
This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a realignment – with you at the center.
Resources & Mentions:
Book a Profitable Path Blueprint Call – for midlife entrepreneurs ready to build a business that fits
Next up: “Top Lessons from 300 Episodes” – insights, truths, and takeaways you won’t want to miss
If this episode resonates, share it with a fellow business owner who’s ready to stop hustling and start building with intention.
Schedule your Profitable Path Blueprint call. If you’re considering working together and want to see if it’s a fit, book a Profitable Path Blueprint Call. It’s a simple, no-pressure conversation to decide whether working together makes sense.
Resources:
Click HERE to receive your free gift – Get Clients to Say “YES!” The Ultimate Social Proof Checklist Every Business Needs to Build Trust and Boost Sales
Join Lori’s private Facebook group – The Midlife Business Academy. A Facebook group for The Typewriter Generation! A community to share business growth strategies that work for us! Join now!
Connect with Lori Follow me on social media – grab other free resources of book a call – it’s all right here!
00:00 – Welcome & Podcast Introduction
After nearly 300 episodes, this podcast is getting a new name and a fresh new purpose. Because midlife business owners are playing by a different set of rules. And it’s time we had a space that actually reflects that.
Welcome to the Midlife Business Academy.
I’m Lori Lyons, marketing strategist, business coach, and accidental techie. After years of running a successful website design agency, I’m now building the business of my dreams and helping other midlife entrepreneurs do the same. From strategy to marketing to mindset, we cover what really matters when you’re growing a business that fits your life.
Let’s get started.
Do you ever feel like your business has just stopped working? What used to bring in clients doesn’t work anymore. You’ve tried new things. You’ve danced on TikTok. You’ve followed the formulas. And still, you’re stuck.
If you’re tired of guessing and ready to simplify your business with a strategy that actually fits you, let’s talk. Book a free Profitable Path discovery call with me. We’ll figure out what’s really going on and whether we’re a fit to work together. Head to talkwithlori.com to schedule.
02:45 – Celebrating Episode 300
Hi there. Can you believe this is episode 300? That number honestly blows me away.
What started as a little passion project called the Encore Entrepreneur has grown into something I never could have imagined. And I actually delayed starting this podcast for years because I was afraid to. I kept procrastinating, putting it off. And now, 300 episodes later, here we are.
I want to take a moment to thank you. Whether you’ve been here since episode one, my very first interview about YouTube with my friend Sharon, or this is your first time tuning in, your time, your attention, and your trust mean the world to me.
I’ve been so honored by your comments, your suggestions, and the relationships that have grown from this podcast.
But today’s episode is big. Not just because of the number. Today, this podcast gets a new name and a new direction. One I’ve been talking about for a while. One that’s been pulling at me.
And I want to share what’s changing and why.
06:30 – The Accidental Techie Story
When I started the Encore Entrepreneur, it was because I saw something missing. So many people were starting businesses in midlife after careers, after raising kids, sometimes after life knocked them sideways. And no one was really speaking to them. To us.
I was one of them.
After years of business ownership, with a few detours working for other people, I found myself laid off and told I wasn’t technical enough. Which is pretty funny now.
That nudge turned into a full blown website design agency. I started asking questions. I taught myself WordPress. I watched YouTube videos. I bought WordPress for Dummies. I said yes before I felt ready.
That first client who took a chance on me is still a valued client and friend today.
I became what I call an accidental techie. And over the years, I built a thriving business and helped others build theirs too.
12:10 – Why Midlife Business Is Different
But something shifted. Something shifted in me.
As my clients became more savvy and I went deeper into coaching and strategy, I realized it wasn’t just websites they needed. They needed clarity. Direction. Support. They needed help simplifying their businesses and their lives.
They needed to know how to use all the tools and strategies out there in a way that felt good, not overwhelming.
And they weren’t encore entrepreneurs anymore. They were building businesses that felt like a first choice. Not a fallback. Not a plan B.
That’s when the Midlife Business Academy started tapping me on the shoulder.
Because midlife business owners are a different breed.
20:05 – Fear, Visibility, and Waiting
Back in 2018, I was sitting across from a business coach at a retreat. There were about 125 people in the room. And I said, look around. Gray hair. No hair. Not ready to retire. Still full of energy.
But we weren’t being spoken to. We were being overlooked.
We joked about what to call ourselves because midlife wasn’t even the word yet. I didn’t want to invent a cutesy label. And honestly, I wasn’t ready to build a market around the word midlife.
So I waited.
But the idea never left me.
I saw it in my clients. In my peers. In myself.
In the last few years, midlife entrepreneurs have exploded onto the business scene. We’ve always been here. We just finally have visibility.
And this was never about startups or scaling for investors. It was about building something meaningful and sustainable. A business that fits the life we want now.
Why did I wait? Fear. Fear of visibility. Fear of going bigger. Fear of what if it didn’t work.
But the market has caught up.
26:40 – Launching the Midlife Business Academy
So I’m done waiting.
Today, I’m officially launching the Midlife Business Academy. This isn’t just a new podcast name. It’s a new home for work I’ve been doing behind the scenes for years.
We’re not here to chase trends. We’re not obsessed with going viral or posting nonstop.
We’ve lived. We’ve tried things. We’ve failed. We’ve learned.
That experience is our superpower.
34:15 – What’s Changing and What’s Not
What’s not changing is I’ll still be here every week bringing you insight, stories, and strategy.
This podcast will be more teacher focused. Academy is intentional. Teaching is my background.
I’ll still be real with you. No fluff. Honest. Grounded. With doable action steps.
What is changing is the intention. We’re not just talking about starting businesses or side hustles. We’re talking about building sustainable, smart businesses that support your life.
I’m also bringing back guests. Most will be midlife business owners with real experience to share. And I’ll weave in more of the frameworks I’ve been developing to help you simplify, find flow, and grow with purpose.
41:20 – Who This Podcast Is For
This podcast is now a place for midlife business owners to be seen, supported, and challenged to think differently.
If you’ve been listening for a while, thank you. If you’re new here, welcome.
I want this to feel like a weekly exhale. Like someone finally gets it.
If this episode resonated, share it with another business owner in this season of life. Someone who might be wondering if it’s too late.
Remind them that it’s not.
48:30 – What to Expect Going Forward
If you’re ready for more personal support in building a business that fits your life, I’d love to talk with you. You’ll find the link to book a Profitable Path Blueprint Call in the show notes.
This isn’t just marketing. This is about designing a business you want to wake up to.
Next week, I’m sharing the top lessons from 300 episodes. The things I’ve learned, seen, and heard that every midlife business owner needs to know.
Some will surprise you. Some will make you laugh. A few might change how you show up in your business.
54:10 – Final Thoughts & Closing
This moment feels big and grounded. I’m proud of where this podcast has been, and I’m even more excited about where it’s headed.
Thank you for being here.
You’re not too old. You’re right on time.
It’s never too late to build the business of your dreams.
Welcome to the Midlife Business Academy. I’m Lori Lyons, and I’ll see you next week.