There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after. A career change. A health diagnosis. Retirement. The loss of someone we love. For many people, those moments become stopping points. For others, they become turning points.
One of the remarkable advantages of reaching mid-career—or what I often call the Power of After stage of life—is that we possess something far more valuable than youthful enthusiasm alone. We have decades of experience, trusted relationships, accumulated wisdom, and the ability to bring people together around a meaningful purpose. Few people demonstrate that better than Mike Gomoll.
After the devastating loss of his five-year-old son Joe to a rare form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome, which usually begins during the first year of life, Mike and his family could have understandably retreated into private grief. Instead, they transformed that heartbreak into Joey's Song, a nonprofit that has raised more than $2 million for epilepsy research while bringing together some of the biggest names in rock music for annual concerts in the middle of a Wisconsin winter. But the story isn't really about concerts. It's about discovering that purpose often grows from our deepest pain. The following five principles follow the journey of embracing the opportunity that arose from a very difficult season of life for Mike and his family.
One: Education Creates Understanding and Hope
One of the first things Mike wanted listeners to understand wasn't his charity—it was epilepsy itself. "One in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime," he explained, a statistic that surprises almost everyone, including me. In other words, if your neighborhood has four people in each home, roughly every seventh house will be affected.
Like many of us, I admitted that my own understanding was limited. I remembered a classmate in elementary school who experienced seizures, and honestly, it frightened me because I simply didn't know what was happening. That's exactly why education matters.
Mike explained that epilepsy isn't one disease but many. It can result from genetics, head trauma, tumors, developmental conditions, and other causes. Some seizures involve convulsions; others may simply cause someone to stare blankly for a few moments. The common thread is that the brain is temporarily overwhelmed, causing the body to shut down as a protective response. Perhaps his most important message was simple:
People with epilepsy don't need our fear—they need our understanding.
Education replaces misconceptions with empathy. Whether you're passionate about health, education, business, or mentoring, meaningful impact often begins by helping people understand something they previously overlooked.
Two: Your Story is More Powerful than Your Statistics
The Joey's Song story isn't compelling because of the dollars raised. It's compelling because of Joe. Although epilepsy left him unable to speak, Joe absolutely loved music. Mike described how the moment music came on—whether it was the Teletubbies or Elmo—Joe had one mission: get everyone in the room dancing. Music became the language he couldn't express with words.
Rather than allowing Joe's memory to fade, Mike discovered an unexpected blessing. "I still get to talk about my son," he said. "Sixteen years later, people are still asking me about Joe." That simple statement captures the power of storytelling. Statistics educate our minds but stories capture our hearts.
People remember Joe because they can picture him. They remember the little boy who loved music. They understand why music became the centerpiece of the foundation. Every one of us has experiences that can encourage someone else. We don't need celebrity status or extraordinary circumstances. We simply need the willingness to tell our story honestly. Often, our greatest influence comes from our greatest vulnerability.
Three: Build on What Already Works
One of my favorite leadership lessons from our conversation came almost in passing. Mike admitted that he never intended to build a concert series. Originally, Joey's Song produced music CDs. Unfortunately, it happened just as the music industry was changing and people largely stopped buying CDs, which affected most of us who produced CDs! But rather than forcing an idea that wasn't working, they pivoted. Concerts became the natural next step. Even more importantly, they built around something Joe already loved: Music.
Mike had spent time in the music industry years earlier before building a career at IBM. Those relationships became unexpected assets. Instead of asking, "What completely new thing should I create?" he asked, "What do I already have that can make a difference?" This is a pivotal question to ask oneself at mid-career when planning a next chapter of life. To explore further, see: Hero Mountain Summit
The great principle applied is this: "The stuff that worked, we'd build upon. The stuff that didn't, we'd jettison." That's practical wisdom for every entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or mid-career professional. We often assume reinvention requires starting over. More often, it means building on the relationships, skills, experiences, and passions we've already developed over decades. Purpose usually grows from existing strengths.
Four: Great Things Happen When You Bring Exceptional People Together
What began as a fundraiser eventually evolved into something much larger. Artists including Cheap Trick, Tears for Fears, The Go-Go's, The Bangles, and many others don't simply perform their regular concerts. They create what Mike affectionately describes as a "rock camp for musicians."
Imagine members from different legendary bands spending a day—or even much less than a day-- rehearsing together before stepping on stage to perform songs they don't normally play—with musicians they've never performed alongside before. It's spontaneous. It's creative. It's risky. And they love it.
As Mike explained, professional musicians spend much of their careers performing the same sets night after night. Joey's Song gives them the opportunity to experiment, collaborate, laugh, improvise, and simply enjoy making music together again. The result is more than a concert. It's a community.
In fact, Mike shared that many of these artists now play together outside of Joey's Song because the friendships began there. That's another lesson for all of us. One of the greatest gifts we possess during the second half of life is our network. Over decades we've met talented people in countless professions. Sometimes our greatest contribution isn't doing everything ourselves. It's introducing remarkable people to one another and creating opportunities they never would have experienced otherwise.
Five: Look For Opportunity, Not Just a Calling
What began as a fundraiser eventually evolved into something much larger. Artists including Cheap Trick, Tears for Fears, The Go-Go's, The Bangles, and many others don't simply perform their regular concerts. They create what Mike affectionately describes as a "rock camp for musicians."
Imagine members from different legendary bands spending a day—or even much less than a day-- rehearsing together before stepping on stage to perform songs they don't normally play—with musicians they've never performed alongside before. It's spontaneous. It's creative. It's risky. And they love it.
As Mike explained, professional musicians spend much of their careers performing the same sets night after night. Joey's Song gives them the opportunity to experiment, collaborate, laugh, improvise, and simply enjoy making music together again. The result is more than a concert. It's a community.
In fact, Mike shared that many of these artists now play together outside of Joey's Song because the friendships began there. That's another lesson for all of us. One of the greatest gifts we possess during the second half of life is our network. Over decades we've met talented people in countless professions. Sometimes our greatest contribution isn't doing everything ourselves. It's introducing remarkable people to one another and creating opportunities they never would have experienced otherwise.
Turning Pain into Purpose
From the direct words of the founder comes an impactful message. Joey's Song exists for one simple reason: To help the next family. Somewhere today, another family is sitting in a neurologist's office hearing a diagnosis they never expected. They're frightened, confused, and wondering what tomorrow will look like. Mike wants them to know they're not alone.
That's the true legacy of Joey's Song. Not just the concerts. Not just the famous artists. Not even the millions of dollars raised. The legacy is transforming personal pain into hope for someone else. Perhaps that's one of the greatest opportunities available in the Power of After season of life. Our experiences—both joyful and painful—can become gifts we offer others. We can educate, tell our stories, build on what already works and bring remarkable people together.
And instead of waiting for some grand calling, we can simply embrace the opportunities already placed in front of us. Sometimes that's where our most meaningful purpose begins.
Additional Resources
More information about Mike Gomoll: Joey's Song
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
Deborah’s Music Products: https://djworksmusic.com/products/
YouTube Podcast Playlist (Subscribe!): Women at Halftime/Power of After
mike gomoll
Mike Gomoll worked at IBM for most of his professional career in a series of management roles. He retired in 2017 and now works on Joey's Song full time. Concerts are held in his hometown of Madison, WI, used as Joey's Song's major fundraising vehicle. In the 15 years since their first event, they have built a roster of amazing Rock Hall of Famers and Grammy winners that come to play their concert series every January.
Purpose often grows from our deepest pain.
deborah johnson
Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, Author
If you are interested in growing and learning, check out our online courses here: Online Learning
1,407 words
