Kevin Kolbe didn’t plan to reinvent his life after 50. But, when his long television career ended unexpectedly, he found himself standing at a crossroads.
At 57, Kevin’s position as a creative director was eliminated after more than three decades in broadcast television. The job he loved was suddenly gone, and with it the structure that had defined his days.
“I really loved what I did in television,” Kevin said. “Not every part of it, but the creative work, the people and the team. I never thought it would just end.”
What followed was not retirement, but a redirection. Instead of chasing another television job, Kevin leaned into something that had quietly been forming in the background.
A YouTube channel he had started almost casually years earlier became the foundation for his next chapter.
Finding new purpose
Kevin had spent years helping TV stations tell stories, promote programming and connect with communities. When that ended, he had to ask a question many people face after 50.
What now?
“I had to really lean into God,” Kevin said. “I kept trying to open doors that just wouldn’t open, and eventually I realized maybe there was something else planned.”
Rather than seeing the job loss as rejection, Kevin began to see it as release. The shift forced him to examine what gave him energy now, not decades earlier.
That clarity did not arrive with a neat plan or a polished vision. It arrived through reflection, faith and experimentation.
“I don’t look back and feel ripped off,” Kevin said. “I had a very blessed career, which I don’t miss, and that surprised me.”
The freedom to create again
Kevin has always been a creator. Even as a child, imagination filled his days. Television allowed him to create professionally, but leadership roles eventually pulled him away from hands on creativity.
“I stopped creating for myself for a long time,” he said. “I was leading teams, which I loved, but I wasn’t exercising my own creative muscles.”
YouTube changed that. At first, his channel lacked a clear focus. Kevin experimented with topics, formats and ideas. For years, his subscriber count hovered in the low thousands.
Then everything changed when he decided to speak directly to people over 40. One video titled “For People Over 40” unexpectedly took off. What followed was rapid growth that stunned him.
“I didn’t pivot so much as refocus. I started talking to the people I understood best” Kevin said. “When I did that, I had no idea my channel would grow as quickly as it did.”
Within months, his channel surged past 100,000 subscribers. Comments poured in and coaching requests increased as his message resonated with his audience.
Meaning through helping others
Kevin’s purpose today centers on helping others find their voice through video. He teaches people how to start YouTube channels, not to chase fame, but to share experience and wisdom.
“YouTube is free,” Kevin said. “The barrier for entry can be zero. If you have a phone, you have what you need.”
He believes people over 50 carry something younger creators cannot manufacture – life experience.
Kevin encourages older adults to stop waiting for permission to begin. Many feel held back by technology, fear or comparison. Audio matters more than visuals, he explained, but authenticity matters more than polish.
“People think they need fancy gear or a studio, but you do not” he said. “I’d rather listen to someone who’s real than someone who’s perfect.”
Faith as a steady anchor
Kevin’s faith shapes how he approaches work and life. It grounds him when plans unravel and success arrives unexpectedly.
“I cringe when people say I deserve this,” he said. “I don’t deserve any of it. I’ve been very blessed.”
Faith helped him release control during uncertain months after losing his job when doors closed repeatedly. Trust became necessary.
“I used to talk about trust,” Kevin said. “Then, I had to live it.”
That surrender allowed him to stop forcing outcomes and start paying attention to direction.
Today, Kevin sees his work as service. Helping others start something does not require knowing everything. It only requires caring enough to walk alongside people who want to learn.
Teaching as a calling
Teaching has always come naturally to Kevin. Coaching sessions allow him to listen deeply and help people uncover what already exists within them.
“I can’t decide someone’s niche for them,” he said. “But, I can help them see what lights them up.”
Often, clients underestimate their own stories, so Kevin helps them recognize value they overlook. His coaching focuses on clarity, workflow and confidence. Sometimes that means reviewing channels. Other times it means simply giving someone permission to start.
Living intentionally without noise
Kevin made a surprising decision as his YouTube success grew. He stepped away from most social media.
“It became a huge distraction,” he said. “If it was there, I checked it.”
By removing constant noise, Kevin reclaimed focus. YouTube became the primary platform where he invested energy.
“I didn’t enjoy social media the way I thought I did,” he said. “Then, I discovered I didn’t have to be everywhere.”
The shift created space for deeper work and reflection, but it also reinforced an important lesson. Purpose does not require constant visibility. Yet, it does require alignment between desire and capability
Advice for those searching after 50
Kevin believes many people over 50 struggle not because they lack options, but because they feel disconnected from themselves. To resolve that, he recommends quiet reflection instead of rushed decisions.
“Disconnect and write,” Kevin said. “Ask what you’re good at and what gives you energy.”
Kevin also encourages discernment when seeking advice. Surrounding yourself with trusted voices matters more than gathering many opinions.
“Be careful who you listen to,” he said. “Everyone has an opinion.”
A purpose that keeps unfolding
Kevin does not see his current work as an endpoint, rather it is a continuation. Books, courses and videos remain tools, but not goals. His deeper purpose lies in contribution.
“I want people to know it’s never too late,” Kevin said. “I’m not retired, rather I’m just doing what I’m called to do now.”
His life today reflects intention rather than urgency. While creativity flows again and faith steadies him, it is service that truly motivates him.
Kevin did not set out to reinvent himself after 50. He simply said yes to what emerged when something familiar ended. And in doing so, he discovered that purpose does not disappear with age. It sharpens.
For more information
People can connect with Kevin on these platforms:
- Website = www.kevinkolbe.com
- YouTube = www.youtube.com/kevinkolbe
Kevin’s books, “Live Streaming Made Easy” and “Video Podcasting Made Easy” are available on Amazon and in other bookstores.
“The Kevin Kolbe Podcast” is available on iTunes and Spotify.
If you order one of Kevin’s books from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
