Career Transitions with Nick Duerden

2022-06-14

One of the best parts of having a podcast is getting to talk to interesting people about topics I find interesting. According to research, you and I will have up to seven careers in a lifetime with an average of 12 different jobs (I think I'm on career #5) so I was fascinated when I read an excerpt in The Guardian from my guest Nick Duerden’s new book, Exit Stage Left: The curious afterlife of pop stars because career transitions are tricky enough without public scrutiny...so where do you go once you’ve known pop stardom?

One of the best parts of having a podcast is getting to talk to interesting people about topics I find interesting.

According to research, you and I will have up to seven careers in a lifetime with an average of 12 different jobs (I think I'm on career #5) so I was fascinated when I read an excerpt in The Guardian from my guest Nick Duerden’s new book, Exit Stage Left: The curious afterlife of pop stars because career transitions are tricky enough without public scrutiny...so where do you go once you’ve known pop stardom?

Think about this: When my dentist or accountant says they are closing up shop to do something different and pursue their bliss I may temporarily think damn! I've got to go find a new one but I never, ever think, it's so sad you failed as a dentist.

Yet, we judge performers, particularly pop stars, differently and often harshly.

Nick Duerden set out to answer the question where do you go once you've known pop stardom and came back deeply inspired and reeling in admiration because despite many stories of overcoming serious life challenges like divorce, bankruptcy and addiction every one of the 50 people Nick interviewed had an air of positivity he says we can all learn from.

My other big takeaway from our conversation:

Every single person Nick interviewed dared to dream big and had the courage to follow their dream.

Nick is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared on both sides of the Atlantic in publications like Billboard, Nylon, Blender and Spin. He has interviewed artists like Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Beyoncé, Kanye West and Adele (and lots of less successful - but still terrific in their own right – pop stars); actors like Daniel Day Lewis, Daniel Radcliffe and Daniel Craig; and writers including Zadie Smith, Curtis Sittenfeld, Lee Child, Salman Rushdie and James Patterson.

In addition to Exit State Left, Nick's books are:

Dishing the Dirt: The Hidden Lives of House Cleaners

The Smalling Things: On the enduring power of family

Get Well Soon: Adventures in Alternative Healthcare

A Life Less Lonely

Visit Nick's website

...and read Nick's Guardian article that inspired me to reach out for an interview.

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