A Powerful Story about Midlife Career Reinvention and Unconventional Career Paths: You’re Never Too Old to Start Over
Today is the 2nd Part of my Interview with Debbie Weiss – The 62-Year-Old “Numbers Girl” Who Became a Bestselling Author
Debbie’s story is a wonderful example of: “What happens when you finally stop living the life you thought you were supposed to live and start exploring what actually lights you up”.
At 50, Debbie Weiss realized she’d spent half a century living for everyone else and had no idea who she actually was. At 62, while her friends talk retirement, she’s a bestselling author who’s been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show with 3.7 million TikTok views. This is what happens when you finally give yourself permission to try things and follow what lights you up even when you’re “supposed to” be winding down.
Debbie Weiss now is a bestselling author and speaker and she’s written two books. One is called “On Second Thought…Maybe I Can” and the other one’s called “The Sprinkle Effect: A Guide to Creating a More Colorful and Fulfilling Life.”
She finished her book two weeks after her husband died. Here’s why that’s the most important thing you’ll hear today.
There’s this moment in every woman’s life when she thinks, “I’ll do it when things calm down.” When the kids are older. When work is less crazy. When life isn’t so chaotic. When things are… easier.
Debbie Weiss is here to tell you: that moment never comes. And thank God she didn’t wait for it.
The Day Everything Changed (Or Did It?)
Melanie: We left off with her discovering she could really actually speak in public without dying of embarrassment. Quite the opposite. She really connected to people and everybody was really, really excited about her talk. But then Life decided to throw her some serious curveballs. Her husband, who she’d been running this insurance business with for decades, just walked out of the office one day and said he couldn’t come back—anxiety, depression, it was a very difficult time. And then because apparently as we know the universe has a very twisted sense of humor sometimes, he also gets diagnosed with terminal blood cancer and six months to live.
So now here’s where Debbie does something that sounds completely counterintuitive, but actually makes perfect sense when she explains it to me. She decides this is the perfect time to finally write that book she’s been thinking about. Well actually, I think it was more her editor convincing her at the time and she was doing a course to complete it, so after thinking about it she decided she’s going to try to do this. And so while her husband was dying, while everything was falling apart, she decided to push through and write that book. So her therapist told her, who cares when she worried about not being able to keep up with the homework or show up every week? And once she realized what that really means, that little sentence, who cares? That’s when everything changed for her.
This is about what happens when you keep creating, even when, especially when your world is ending, because it still gives you reason to hold on. It still gives you reason to continue. And it gives you purpose.
The Podcast That Felt Like a Message
Debbie: We choose what we see. So one day I’m listening to a podcast, and on the podcast, there’s a woman who helps first-time authors get their stories out there. And listening to her, I really could relate to her, and I thought, this is meant to be. This is a podcast I wasn’t a regular listener of. I was an occasional listener of. And I said, this is a message and I have to meet her.
And so I scheduled a meeting and really connected with her. And she made me feel safe and like I could do it. And I wasn’t going to be judged because I wasn’t a good writer and all the things. And she was starting this small group. And just as I was kind of getting my courage up, one, to invest the money, and two, to think, oh, boy, if I invest the money, I got to really do this. My husband, out of the blue, was diagnosed with terminal blood cancer.
Recognizing Divine Timing
Sometimes what feels like the worst timing is actually perfect timing. Debbie was on the cusp of a major commitment when tragedy struck. Most of us would see this as a sign to stop, to retreat, to focus only on survival. But what if these moments of crisis are actually when we need creative pursuits the most? When we need something that’s ours, something we can control, something that reminds us we’re still alive and still growing?
Two Words That Changed Everything
Debbie: And I was seeing a therapist at the time, and I said to her, I’m embarrassed that I’m even bringing this up. But this course that I was going to take, obviously, I can’t take it now. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know anything. I don’t know what our future looks like.
And she said, I disagree with you. I think this is the perfect time to take this class.
And I said, well, what if there’s homework and I don’t do the homework? Or what if I can’t show up one week? Or what if people, I have to read it out loud and people judge me?
And she said, who cares?
And I thought, oh my gosh, she’s right. What does it matter?
And so I took the leap and told everyone of my situation and everybody was so incredibly supportive. And it was, like I said earlier, a very small group, which was really helpful. We were each kind of writing different, slightly different types of books and nobody had written anything before. And some of them wanted to be writers or authors, but they had never given it a go.
The “Who Cares?” Framework (are you using that yet?)
When you’re facing something truly significant—loss, illness, major life changes—those small fears we usually obsess over suddenly reveal themselves for what they are: insignificant. The question “who cares?” isn’t dismissive; it’s liberating. Who cares if you miss a deadline when you’re dealing with a terminal diagnosis? Who cares if your writing isn’t perfect when you’re fighting to stay sane? This perspective shift doesn’t minimize your creative work—it actually frees you to do it more authentically, without the weight of perfectionism and fear of judgment.
When Writing Becomes Medicine
Debbie: And it was very difficult the first, I’d say, month or two in the course, just book-wise for me to figure out—there was like a lot of things. I couldn’t understand, well, what am I writing? Do I just like start writing? It took a while to figure out the structure. Once I did, it was very helpful for me.
But here’s the point. I said, I’m going to do this at a certain point in the course. I didn’t feel this way in the beginning. But meeting with these women every week, being with people who are supportive, who are on that same journey built me up and inspired me. And so when we would make a goal at the end of every week, whatever it was—this week we’re going to write 3,000 words—I wanted to do it.
And what wound up happening is that my therapist was 1,000% right. Writing this book saved me during one of the most difficult times of my life.
Because not only did my husband suffer from the blood cancer, but his mental illness really kicked in when you’re told you’re dying and there’s no cure. And that was more challenging than what was going on with his body.
And so I would make sure most days to schedule time to write, whether it was at six in the morning before he woke up. If he was in the hospital, I’d take all my stuff with me. And when he was sleeping or went for a test, I wrote.
And I looked forward, even though it was a struggle to write because this is new to me. And some days you sit down and nothing comes. And other days you could write the whole book. But just making progress, when it gave some sense of control when the rest of my life was literally spinning. And I mean spinning out of control.
Creative Work as an Anchor
In chaos, we need anchors and not distractions, but meaningful pursuits that remind us we still have agency. Debbie’s writing wasn’t escapism; it was survival. She wrote at 6 AM, in hospital waiting rooms, between tests. She didn’t wait for inspiration or the perfect conditions. She wrote because it was the one thing in her life she could still control, the one thing that moved forward when everything else was falling apart. This is what creative work can be: not a luxury we indulge when life is easy, but a lifeline we grab when life is hard.
Two Weeks After
Debbie: And when he died, six months later, he lived six months from the time he was diagnosed. I was three chapters shy of finishing. And I was supposed to—my husband died on December 30th, 2022, and I was supposed to have my book, or my first draft to the editor, January 15th, 2023, so two weeks later.
And, of course, they said to me, don’t be ridiculous, we’re, well, whatever you get it, it’s fine. And after the funeral, and after my friends and family went back to their own lives, which is the hardest part when you lose anyone, but particularly—
It got me through the last six months writing this book. As I sit here literally in this same room, this actually was the room that we turned into a bedroom for my husband. I turned it back quickly into more of an office and I said, I’m going to sit here and this is my goal. And this is going to help me focus on something else other than all this pain and grief that I’m going through.
And that’s what I did. And I had it to her on January 15th.
Melanie: Oh, that’s such an important message, Debbie, for, and so much more. That’s what I mean, like the depth of conversations that I get to have is, I’m so grateful for because, like, you’re not just telling people that it matters to put your stuff out there, that it matters to follow that to create the creative projects, to put your heart and soul into something, but also that something like this can really save you. And it’s, it just gives you something to hold on to, like you say. Inspiring, hearing you talk about your journey and how you used that to work through this really challenging time. So thank you for sharing it.
Debbie: You’re welcome. And that’s why I wanted to share it because it’s so counterintuitive, right? I mean, I thought the same thing. What am I crazy? I’m not starting something new the second that we get this horrible news.
Melanie: Some people will say, oh, look at her. She’s capitalizing on her husband’s death.
Debbie: And believe that. Do people do that? Oh my God. That is insane. It’s one person. And they don’t know the backstory. This started way before anything happened with him. It had nothing to do with him. It’s just now part of my story because my story is my life. And this is my life.
Melanie: Yes, of course. I didn’t ask to be a widow. Believe me. And also not to have this kind of journey, like that sometimes when we use these little bits and pieces of our story, like if someone was to come and go, how come you talk about it? Well, that is your story and you lived it and you had to live through it. So you might as well talk about it.
And I’m so sure that there are people out there that will listen to that and it will give them strength and it gives them a reason to move forward with their own challenges. And sometimes that’s all we need. Like we need that message of someone to see like actually she’s gone through the same thing and she managed to do it so I can too.
And that’s exactly how it worked for me, listening to podcasts, listening to—
Your Story is Your Superpower
One of the fears that keeps women from sharing their stories is the worry that they’ll be judged, misunderstood, or accused of exploiting their pain. But here’s the truth: your story isn’t something that happened to you—it’s part of who you are. When you share authentically, not to capitalize but to connect, you give others permission to face their own struggles. You become the example someone else desperately needs. The person who judges your vulnerability is revealing their own discomfort, not your mistake.
From Terror to Triumph: The Speaking Discovery
Melanie: Of your comfort zone, which is for most of us and for me, for sure, the hardest thing to do. But I have seen that when I do that, look what happened. I finally agreed to be the president and it changed my life. It changed my life. I discovered something about myself. I never knew existed. So it was only because I took that step.
Even when I moved to become an insurance agent, I left what I knew. I left where I grew up. It was, I came to a very different place doing something completely different. And it was hard. But in the end, it’s given me so much freedom and so much joy. And it really has, it worked out and where would I have been if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone in the same box, right?
And then you’re that person at the end of your life going, what happened? Oh, I can’t believe. I never, I never experimented and see, maybe I could have done this. Who knows? Wouldn’t you rather go down trying?
Melanie: I know. I know. I think exactly the same. And sometimes it’s really, really difficult. I can totally relate. I was like when you were talking about the story when you had to go up on stage, I was like, oh my God, I would have died. And so many people struggle with speaking in front of people. And for me, it’s been my biggest fear talking into a microphone.
But like when something is calling you, it’s like you really have this choice and I just don’t want to be this person that at the end of their life sits there with regrets going, oh, I wish I would have done. What would have happened? What if? What if? What if? I don’t want to be that person. I just rather—
And sometimes when you realize and that’s exactly what you’ve experienced, like you’ve worked through this to get out of your comfort zone. And then you often realize that this fear is like an illusion. It’s been created by your mind because actually you’re so amazing speaking to me now, in front of people. You’re so connecting with your story. Like it’s so emotional. It made me emotional. And it’s like we’re building up this big thing in our mind often. And then you realize actually this is why I’m here. Like I am meant to be speaking to people like this. Why did I even have this fear? This was crazy, really crazy.
Debbie: I remember thinking, oh, I can’t wait till the next one. I can’t wait till I give that second speech. What am I going to talk about? Oh, now I have to make sure I make it just as good, but I was excited. It was, it was eye opening, really eye opening.
The Illusion of Fear
Research shows that 85-90% of what we worry about never happens. And the percentage that does happen is never as bad as we think it’s going to be. More than that: the things we actually have to overcome often teach us something valuable and make us stronger. We’re grateful for the lesson. Fear is often a fog of illusion created by our thoughts. When you pull back that curtain, you discover that the thing you feared isn’t who you are—it’s just a story your mind told you. And once you realize that, you can’t wait for the next challenge.
What’s Next at 62: Midlife Career Reinvention at 62
Melanie: I would just like to ask you in general how, like, you’re obviously a speaker, you’ve written books, and you also work with people. You coach?
Debbie: No, I don’t coach. So in a month I’m going to be 62. And what I’ve decided is, and this is part of the journey, is that I think that I can make more impact by speaking to larger groups than working one-on-one.
I also seem to—part of this whole creative thing that’s popping off in my head—I have all these product ideas. And so that is where I decided that putting my energy is. I just finished a gratitude journal and I made a deck of cards. This is just a prototype that go with my book to use in conjunction with. And I’ve got all these little branded sprinkle things.
And this is it. Like people would look at this and say, a 62-year-old person has sprinkles, right? Like, it doesn’t go.
Melanie: I think it’s amazing.
Debbie: It makes me so darn happy. Every time I look at this, it makes me happy. And so I just tell myself, if it makes me happy, there’s other people out there that it will make them happy. And so that’s the direction right now that I’m going in.
Talk to me a year from now. Who knows? But like you said in the beginning, which I think is a thousand percent true, it is all about the journey. Each little new thing that I do and I learn about, it’s so exciting. And that’s what makes, really, that’s what makes life exciting.
You’re always like exploring and, oh, I can’t wait until I get the book and the deck and when I go here to speak, whatever, whatever it is and whatever it is for you, that is what brings you joy. And then you’re like, oh, great, this worked or this didn’t, what’s next, what’s next, what’s next. And I never want to stop saying what’s next.
The “What’s Next” Mindset
At 62, Debbie isn’t winding down—she’s ramping up. She’s creating gift boxes, card decks, journals, branded products. She’s not following a traditional retirement path or anyone else’s timeline. She’s following her joy. This is what happens when you stop asking “am I too old?” and start asking “what’s next?” Age becomes irrelevant when you’re in love with the journey. The goal isn’t to arrive at some final destination; it’s to keep exploring, keep creating, keep discovering what makes you come alive.
The Sprinkle Gift Box (And Why It Matters)
Melanie: Well that that’s amazing. I was going to say like that’s my and that’s my last question is always: and what’s next for you Debby, what’s your what’s next, what have you planned?
Debbie: My what’s next is I want to—I love getting surprises. And so I am in the process of creating my sprinkle gift box.
Melanie: Oh, that sounds amazing.
Debbie: So it’ll have my Sprinkle Effect book and the gratitude journal, the cards, this one is a blank notebook that says sprinkle your thoughts and a pen and I don’t know maybe a little jar of sprinkles and something that you open it and yet it’s helpful, right? Because that particular book, it is really kind of steps that I’ve taken to start to change my life.
And so I feel like when you want to help someone, a woman who’s not sure, maybe they’ve gone through a transition, divorce, empty nester, retired, changing careers, like whatever it is, right? We all are going through that. And when people are going through a time like that, what do you send them? You usually the choices are you send them tea and a robe and a candle. And not that any of those things are bad, but you know your audience, right?
If sprinkles and this whole theme is going to make someone happy, and then yet it has a practical use—
Melanie: Exactly. And I think both coming together is an amazing gift. We get so many, I used to work in corporate, and you get so many useless gifts where you go, oh, what am I doing with that now? And so if you add this beautiful, inspiring theme and the message that you want to send together with something that’s useful and what, like, what better do you want to do? Like, that’s a great gift, I think.
Debbie: So, well, thank you. So that’s what’s next for me.
Melanie: Yes, congratulations. Very inspiring. And I love, like, how you’re building this whole umbrella of little things. And because I come from the brand world. So I’m always excited when I see things like that. So it’s very nice to see it coming together for you.
Debbie finished her book two weeks after her husband died. Two weeks, I kept thinking about what her therapist said, who cares? Like, who cares if you miss a week or you can’t do the homework or people judge your writing when you’re facing something that’s huge, those little worries, they just seem pretty ridiculous, don’t they? Keep that in mind next time.
But also this: she didn’t wait for life to calm down to start creating. She started when everything was in chaos, when her whole world was collapsing. She wrote at 6 a.m. before her husband woke up. She wrote in the hospital in waiting rooms. She made it happen because it was the thing keeping her sane.
Now she’s making these sprinkle gift boxes, sprinkles of joy. And honestly, getting so much joy from it. At 62, everything is just starting. While people her age are talking about slowing down, she’s talking about what’s next, what’s next, what’s next, with so much excitement.
You can’t find someone like that on every corner, but you certainly can follow Debbie to get that little sprinkle of joy. And we shared all her handles in the show notes. If you want to connect with her, her energy is quite contagious, be warned.
And if you’re sitting there thinking you’re too old, everything’s too late, too whatever, maybe think again. Because Debbie would probably tell you to stop making excuses and to just start and keep going.
Final Thoughts: What Debbie’s Story Teaches Us
If you’re reading this thinking “it’s too late for me” or “I’m too old to start over” or “I don’t have anything special to offer,” I want you to read Debbie’s story again.
She was 50 when she realized she’d lost herself. She’s 62 now and just getting started. She spent decades convinced she wasn’t creative – and now she can’t stop creating. She was terrified to speak in public, and that one speech changed everything.
Your age isn’t the problem. Your circumstances aren’t the problem. The story you’re telling yourself about who you are and what’s possible, that’s the only thing standing between you and the life you actually want.
So what story are you ready to rewrite?
Connect with Debbie Weiss at www.debbierweiss.com and follow her journey on Instagram @debbie.r.weiss and TikTok @debbierweiss
Listen to the full Mama What’s Next podcast episode wherever you get your podcasts.
‘Mama, What’s Next?’ Podcast and community that provides holistic career coaching for mothers.
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