The conversation I had with Alma Derricks on the Power of After Show focused on the principle that creative thinking begins by unlearning insecure thinking. It begins by replacing limiting assumptions with curiosity.

For many professionals, especially at mid-career or what I often call "halftime," the biggest obstacle isn't a lack of talent. It isn't even a lack of opportunity. It's the voice inside our own heads. That voice whispers:

• "You're too old."
• "You're not creative enough."
• "Someone else is already doing that."
• "Stay where it's safe."

Those thoughts often become stronger the longer we've been in one career, one company, or one way of thinking. We build routines. We become known for certain skills. We develop expertise. Those are all good things—but they can also become limitations if we stop learning, questioning, and imagining.

Having worked with an impressive range of both traditional and creative companies, Alma brings deep insight into what it takes to grow through change. Even if you don’t see yourself as an “adventurous leader,” our conversation will challenge the insecure voice many of us need to unlearn, helping us embrace creative thinking, self-leadership, and the courage it takes to pivot successfully into what’s next.

Mindset is More Powerful than Talent

One of Alma's observations that resonated deeply with me was that change itself isn't usually our greatest challenge. Our mindset is.

Many people spend years becoming excellent at operating within an established system. Schools reward correct answers. Companies reward consistency. Organizations create policies and procedures because they produce predictable results. But the marketplace rarely stays predictable.

• Industries shift.
• Technology evolves.
• Customer expectations change.
• Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every profession.

The professionals who thrive aren't necessarily the smartest. They're the most adaptable and consistent. They've learned to ask different questions. Instead of asking, "How do I protect what I've always done?" They ask, "What new opportunity is emerging?" That shift changes everything.

Throughout our conversation, Alma repeatedly emphasized curiosity. She described helping organizations that had "run out of paved road." I love that description. Eventually every career reaches a place where the familiar road ends. At that moment we have two choices. We can wait for someone else to build the road or we can begin exploring.

Creative thinkers aren't fearless. They're simply willing to ask questions before they have every answer.

• What if this works?
• What if I already have transferable skills?
• What if my experience is actually my greatest advantage?

Questions expand possibilities. Fear narrows them.

Alma shared a fascinating perspective about walking into rooms where she often felt different from everyone else. Instead of allowing those differences to become insecurities, she eventually realized they were assets. I could identify with this, walking into a corporate situation as a performing artist. Sometimes it feels like we’re from different planets! However, different perspectives create better solutions. Different experiences generate better questions. Different backgrounds often become our greatest contribution.

Rather than asking, "Do I belong here?" Perhaps we should ask, "What perspective can only I bring to this conversation?" That's a completely different mindset and I’ve learned from experience how valuable it is, trusting my own leadership instincts.

Develop a Long View

One of Alma's recommendations was Peter Schwartz's classic book The Art of the Long View. The concept is simple but powerful.

• Stretch your thinking.
• Look beyond today's circumstances.
• Imagine multiple possibilities.

This isn't about predicting the future perfectly. It's about preparing your mind to recognize opportunities when they appear.

I often encourage people to broaden their inputs. Read books outside your field. Listen to podcasts from different industries. Attend conferences unrelated to your profession. Travel. Meet people with different perspectives. I often ask friends and colleagues about a favorite book they’ve recently read. I keep a running list that’s become quite helpful in expanding my perspective and resources for future reading and study.

Our minds become creative when they're exposed to new combinations of ideas. Innovation rarely comes from staying inside the same mental boundaries.

Think Like an Entrepreneur

One of the recurring themes in this conversation—and one I strongly believe in—is developing an entrepreneurial mindset. That doesn't necessarily mean starting a business. It means taking ownership. This can occur in most any position—whether working for yourself or for someone else.

Entrepreneurs naturally scan the horizon. They're constantly asking:

• Where is the market going?
• What problems need solving?
• What skills are becoming more valuable?
• What's changing?

They're students of people. Students of trends. Students of opportunity. Even if you're employed by someone else, this mindset creates tremendous value. Companies increasingly need employees who think beyond their job descriptions. Those individuals become leaders because they're already thinking like owners.

Solve Problems Instead of Selling Yourself

Another practical insight from our conversation was that consulting—or really any meaningful work—is about solving problems. That's true whether you're an entrepreneur, employee, speaker, coach, musician, or executive. People don't buy expertise. They buy solutions.

Instead of asking, "How do I market myself?" Ask, "What problem can I solve?" That subtle shift changes your entire approach. This is especially important for any entrepreneur in a creative field as those fields can be super self-focused.

Experience becomes valuable because it allows you to recognize patterns. Wisdom becomes valuable because it shortens someone else's learning curve. Purpose becomes valuable because people want to follow those who genuinely care about helping others succeed.

History gives us countless reminders of companies that failed to adapt. Kodak is perhaps one of the best-known examples. Ironically, Kodak, first selling materials designed for the printing industry in 1912, fueled the color revolution in books and magazines in the 1950’s and 60’s. They also helped invent digital photography with the first digital camera in 1975. Yet they struggled to embrace the very technology they had pioneered and were outmaneuvered by competitors.

Why did this happen? Because success sometimes creates complacency. That lesson applies personally as well. It's easy to keep improving skills that are gradually becoming less relevant. Instead, we should continually ask, "What skills will matter five years from now?" Learning isn't something we finish after graduation. It's the discipline that keeps us relevant throughout life.

Start Before You Feel Ready

Perhaps the greatest takeaway from my conversation with Alma was remarkably simple. Start.

• Don't wait until your confidence is perfect.
• Don't wait until circumstances become ideal.
• Don't wait until someone gives you permission. Just begin.
• Write the first article.
• Take the first course.
• Learn the new technology.
• Reach out to a mentor.
• Volunteer for the unfamiliar project.
• Record the first video.

Every meaningful journey begins with movement. Waiting rarely creates clarity. Action does.

Your Next Chapter Begins with a New Voice

The voice inside your head has tremendous influence over your future. Make sure it's speaking truth.

• Replace, "I'm too late." With, "I'm bringing decades of experience."
• Replace, "I'm not creative." With, "I can learn to think differently."
• Replace, "I'm an outsider." With, "My perspective adds value."
• Replace, "I've always done it this way." With, "What else is possible?"

At halftime, you're not starting over. You're building upon everything you've learned. The combination of your experience, your relationships, your transferable skills, and your willingness to continue learning may become your greatest competitive advantage.

Creative thinking isn't reserved for artists or inventors. It's available to anyone willing to ask better questions, challenge limiting beliefs, and continue growing. The insecure voices may never disappear completely. But they don't have to lead.

• Purpose can lead.
• Curiosity can lead.
• Confidence can grow.

And when you begin to unlearn the voices that have held you back, you'll discover something remarkable. Your next chapter isn't waiting for someone else to write it. You're already holding the pen. So start writing!

Additional Resources

More information about Alma: https://www.rev.la/agenda

The Summit: Journey to Hero Mountain by Deborah Johnson: an inspiring journey to conquer self-doubt, fear, and criticism, including the protagonist’s own inner critic.

Power of After: What's Next Can Be Your Most Purposeful Chapter by Deborah Johnson

Hero Mountain Summit: Power of After 5-Step Framework: A 5-month entrepreneurial mentorship designed to help mid-life professionals break free from stagnation and rise toward purposeful success.

FREE Downloads: Goal Setting Worksheets ; Power of After 7 Ingredients for Success Guide

FREE Resources and links: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/DJWorks

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YouTube Podcast Playlist (Subscribe!): Women at Halftime/Power of After

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