After spending decades climbing the corporate ladder in healthcare administration, Michael Jones thought he had it all figured out.
With an MBA in hand, executive roles at major health plans, and a reputation for being a hard worker, Michael did what so many professionals from his generation were taught to do: keep your head down, deliver results and the rewards will follow.
But what happens when the ladder you’ve been climbing rests against the wrong wall?
For Michael, the breaking point came not from burnout, but betrayal. In what had once been a thriving startup with an inspiring mission and healthy culture, changes in leadership turned the workplace toxic.
Gaslighting and manipulation became routine, and the values Michael cherished, such as trust, transparency and meaningful contribution, were being eroded daily.
“I was just a shell of myself,” Michael recalled. “I went to my boss and said, ‘I’m not adding value anymore. Let’s figure out a better fit for me within the company.’ Her response was, ‘Maybe it’s time you look elsewhere.’ That was the beginning of the end.”
It was also the start of something new.
Reinventing himself through writing
Rather than spiral into resentment, Michael chose to process his experience through a different lens. He began writing.
The result was a deeply personal and practical book called “The Career Secret.” It was designed to help others navigate similar workplace challenges. But, Michael didn’t stop there. He paired the book with coaching services and a new professional identity as “The Clarity Coach.”
Through his own pain, Michael discovered a new calling to help others reclaim their purpose, especially mid-career professionals stuck in roles that no longer serve them.
“We drift through our careers too often,” he said. “We take the next job because it’s expected or it looks good on a résumé. But we never stop to ask what we were uniquely created to do.”
Michael’s new path emerged not from strategy, but surrender. For a while, he marketed himself as “a former healthcare executive who also does coaching.” But the results didn’t follow until he made a critical shift in identity.
“I realized I was being double-minded. I stopped saying, ‘I do coaching,’ and started saying, ‘I am a coach.’ That changed everything. It wasn’t just a career move, it became a calling.”
A new model for midlife reinvention
Michael developed a framework called RISE to guide others through their own career and purpose transitions:
• R – Recognize the problem. A toxic boss may be part of the issue, but often the real problem is internal. “I didn’t have a growth mindset. I was stuck in a fixed view of what success looked like,” he said.
• I – Identify what you really want. Many people climb toward goals they don’t actually desire. “You have to ask the hard questions,” Michael explained. “What lights you up? What brings you joy?”
• S – Step into the stretch. This is where people often falter. Trying something new is exciting at first, but eventually leads to what psychologists call the ‘Valley of Despair.’ Michael challenges people to push through the discomfort, because that’s where growth lives.
• E – Elevate your personal brand. “Everyone has a personal brand,” he said. “If you don’t define it, someone else will.” Especially for people over 50, Michael teaches how to position yourself as relevant, engaged and indispensable, even in changing industries.
Helping others avoid the traps he fell into
Michael said he spent most of his career being a “hard worker” to serve his employers. He believed showing up early, volunteering for extra projects and producing strong results would earn promotions.
But, that’s not how corporate politics work.
In “The Career Secret,” Michael outlines three types of professionals:
• The Hard Worker, who gets the job done, but often stays invisible.
• The Politician, who plays the game and advances quickly, sometimes at others’ expense.
• The Career Secret Master, who adds value, builds relationships and plays the long game with integrity and purpose.
Michael wants to help people move from hard worker to career secret master by becoming intentional, visible and values-driven.
“Performance is no longer enough,” he said. “Especially as we get older, we have to learn to manage perceptions, build our networks and communicate the value we bring.”
Parkinson’s diagnosis adds urgency and clarity
In early 2024, Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. For a Navy veteran and avid runner, who once carried flags in marathons to honor fallen soldiers, the news was jarring.
But, true to his growth mindset, Michael didn’t see Parkinson’s as a setback. He saw it as part of his purpose.
“This is part of my story now,” he said. “And I will use it to serve others and show what it looks like to keep growing, no matter what.”
Parkinson’s has made traditional employment more difficult due to physical and cognitive challenges, including insomnia and daytime fatigue.
Rather than resist it, Michael leaned harder into coaching. It was something he could do on his terms, with passion and authenticity.
He now considers his coaching practice to be his ministry, and his life’s work.
A purpose rooted in faith
Michael’s work is grounded in deep spiritual conviction. He believes each person was uniquely created for something. Discovering what that is requires prayer, reflection and, sometimes, disruption.
He encourages people over 50 to think back to their childhood.
“What did you love to do in middle school?” he asked. “That’s often where your gifts were already visible. I used to be the one everyone came to for advice or just to talk. Turns out, I’ve always been a coach.”
Michael also reminds others that life’s detours often lead us to the right destination. He compares his Parkinson’s journey to the experience of adopting his daughter, Olivia, from China. What started as a failed attempt in Russia ultimately led to the family he was meant to have.
“Parkinson’s is a detour, not a dead end,” he said. “It’s refining me by reminding me that time is precious. It’s also showing me how to live intentionally.”
Living with purpose after 50
Today, Michael finds profound meaning in guiding others through career crossroads and helping them discover the joy of doing work aligned with their values.
His devotional, “Purpose in the Pause,” was created for people in transition, such as those laid off, burned out or simply questioning what’s next.
He meets his clients with empathy, because he’s walked in their shoes. And he encourages them to dream bigger, even in their 50s and 60s.
“There is still so much life ahead,” he said. “If you’re over 50, this is not the time to fade into the background. It’s the time to stand up, stretch and rise into who you were created to be.”
Michael continues to coach, write and speak to offer a clear voice in a noisy world, and to help others discover the courage to pivot toward purpose.
For more information
People can connect with Michael through these platforms:
- Website = www.claritycoachmichael.com
- LinkedIn = www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcjonesmba
- Amazon author page = https://amzn.to/4hRWxA8
Michael’s books are available on Amazon and in other bookstores. Look for “The Career Secret,” “Purpose in the Pause” and “Three Minutes From Gold.”
If you buy a book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
