Career Change After 40 And Why Average Won’t Cut It in the AI Era

This week’s mixtape: career burnout, midlife pivots, building your own income, calming AI fears, and some Tears for Fears

Author

Corey Koehler
September 28, 2025

A big thank you to beehiiv for making this newsletter possible.

If you’re still grinding on social without an email list… you’re basically just renting followers. One algorithm tweak and poof—gone.

That’s why I use beehiiv. It makes starting and running a list stupid-simple.

And to make it even easier, I put together a free guide:

The desire for a career change doesn’t discriminate.

I’ve always been a little jealous of people who ALWAYS knew what they wanted to be when they grew up.

I figured they were set for life.

Lucky bastards (I say that with love 😀).

But this past week, I interviewed someone who did know and still ended up burned out and directionless.

I also found a few videos that will improve your AI IQ and help you stay relevant.

Let’s do it…

New Podcast Interview

Just posted my interview with Curt Sassek.

Curt knew from age 11 that he wanted to be a chef. And he nailed it—seven countries, five-star resorts, award-winning kitchens.

And then… the passion died.

Here’s the kicker: instead of clinging to a title that no longer fit, he reinvented himself as a career personal development coach.

Curt lays out the “recipe” for reinvention in our talk—clarity, cleaning out the pantry (limiting beliefs), and cooking up your next move.

🎧 Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Why You Need to Think Like an Entrepreneur

I came across a video this week that nails why we all need to start thinking more like entrepreneurs if we want to stay relevant.

Short version: you can’t count on a “regular job” to pay enough for a good life.

The guy breaks down the big trends shaping the AI Age, why the old wage system is cracking, and what that means for people like us.

Then he shows how you can move yourself into the top 10% by building digital assets—things like content, code, or even a small piece of intellectual property that you own.

AI Thought of the Week

This is short video offers up a warning to be careful about how much stock you put into AI answers.

It just might be trying to bullshit you.

Music Of The Week

Tear For Fears - “Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Live)”

I think this song gets better as I get older.

It has this "warm-I-think-everything-is-gonna-be-alright” vibe to it.

Here’s a recent live performance that shows they still have it.

Big Takeaway

You don’t have to wait for a layoff, midlife crisis, or AI pink slip to start shifting.

Short version:

  • If work feels like drudgery, pay attention—that’s your signal.

  • Stay relevant by building something of your own.

  • Beware of AI BS

Build now, while you still have the runway.

Have a good one,

Corey

Thanks to Riverside.fm ($) for help creating my podcasts. I use Riverside to record, edit, and distribute my podcast and video content—it’s studio-quality, easy to use, and saves me hours bouncing around between software. The last two clients I recommended it to also loved it.

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