Episode 132: Starting Your Second Act with Shannon Russell of Second Act Success
In this episode, I speak to Shannon Russell of the Second Act Success Podcast. Russell is a career transition and business coach empowering women to leave unfulfilling careers and build joyful, purpose driven businesses. She recently published a book “Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life,” which comes out May 7.
During our discussion, Shannon passes along a lot of great tips for moving to new horizons, such as celebrating past achievements for motivation. She also tells the story of how she started her own franchise, Snapology, after working in television for years. She’s full of wisdom after years of working as career coach and finding a second act herself.
Topics Discussed:
How STEM inspired the creation of Snapology
Not feeling locked into your first career
Starting small when creating a new business
Resources mentioned:
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Read the transcript for this episode:
Welcome to Educator Forever, where we empower teachers to innovate education. Join us each week to hear stories of teachers expanding their impacts beyond the classroom and explore ways to reimagine teaching and learning.
Shannon Russell is a career transition and business coach empowering women to leave unfulfilling careers and build joyful, purpose driven businesses. She is a speaker, the host of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, and the author of “Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life.” Hey, Shannon, so nice to have you here.
Shannon Russell
So great to be here. Thanks for having me, Lily.
Lily Jones
Absolutely. So I would love to hear about your professional journey.
Shannon Russell
Yeah. So I began my career working in Hollywood and New York City as a producer for TV. It was my dream since I was a little girl, that's what I did for about 16 years. And then once I became a mom, I made a pivot, and I left TV, and I got into entrepreneurship, and I bought a franchise, ran that for about eight years, and in that franchise, I taught STEM education to kids. So it was a snapology franchise. We taught Legos, robotics coding, and then, yeah, it was wonderful to serve the families in my community. And then I sold that business successfully last year in 2024 and while I had that business, thank you. Well, I had that business, I opened a coaching business as well. So I was running both businesses at the same time, and it was a lot.
Lily Jones
yes, but yeah, absolutely. And so I'm curious a little bit. I also I left the classroom when my daughter was born in search of doing something more flexible. So I think that's a route that many of us can relate to. And I'm curious why you decided to go with the Snapology franchise.
Shannon Russell
Well, it's so funny, because when I left television, I really was flailing. I was trying to figure out, what could a television producer do that was not on a set somewhere, and I was just trying to figure it out, and I was doing it in a silo by myself, so I didn't have a coach or anyone to help me. And while I was trying to figure it out, I was with a three year old and a newborn, you know. And so I was really just with them all day, every day, and my three year old would sit and build with the Duplo Lego bricks and just get in the zone. And it was so much fun. And it was honestly the only time I could be by myself or go do the dishes. And I thought there was something there. And really, like you, the whole point of leaving television was to be present with the kids. So when I did, decide to start going into a potential business. I wanted to do something with children, because I wanted to be able to bring my kids along. And so in researching kind of the STEM education field, I found this franchise that was perfect.
Lily Jones
Wonderful. Yeah, I relate to just feeling like, Oh, what are the options out there as a classroom teacher. I definitely was, like, so focused on school based jobs that I was like, I could be a teacher, I could be a principal. That's kind of it, and it's not true, right? Like, after I started looking, I was like, there's so much more out there. So sometimes we have to, like, break outside of our line of sight that we're kind of used to.
Shannon Russell
I agree. Or sometimes we think that what we know and our skills are not that valuable, right? We think everyone else can do it, and that's so not the case.
Lily Jones
It's not the case. We're just probably around other people who have similar skills in our daily life. So so we don't really see how unique our skills are until we get in other situations.
Shannon Russell
Yep, totally true.
Lily Jones
So I know now that you focus on second acts. Can you tell us about what led you to focus on this?
Shannon Russell
Yeah, so I really was starting a second act for myself. I chose when I decided to leave television, I loved it. There was absolutely nothing about it that I did not like, except for the hours and the travel and, you know, the schedule. But so when I was choosing to exit that industry, I really tried to celebrate that accomplishment. I kind of looked at it, instead of grieving that part of my career as really celebrating what I had accomplished and getting excited for this second act or this new adventure. And then I started thinking, You know what I'm going to produce my own life. And in trying to produce my life and produce this business, I just pulled second act into it, because it kind of relates to entertainment, and it just became the name of my business. And really my mission, you know, and just helping other women find their second act and and really, because I really am a believer that what we choose at 22 or 21 doesn't always align with us when, especially when we're moms and we're in like that midlife era. So it's okay, kind of giving people, other women, permission to try something new and start over.
Lily Jones
I love that. Yeah, you're not locked in. There are so many different possibilities and so many ways that you can build on that first act and go in a totally different direction. Yeah, I know, yeah, it is exciting. Totally. It's awesome. And I've heard Jane Fonda talk about, like, doing a life audit and thinking about her life in these like three acts, and she's in her third act, right? But I like this thought of just like. Like you reflecting on that first act of your life and be like, okay, you know, in some ways that that book is closed, right? But now, what's that second act going to be about? And doing it intentionally?
Shannon Russell
Yeah, and just, you know, thinking like we said, you know, look back at your skills, look at your experiences, and really dive into it in an honest way, and have that conversation with yourself to see where those can lead you, and to think that nothing is off limits, like let yourself dream and do the research to see if it is a good fit or not. And once you start doing that, you do get more confident and more excited and to look at it like an adventure, you know, and like we get this one life, so what can we do to fill it up and feel like we are, you know, loving every moment and waking up excited for the day?
Lily Jones
Yeah, nothing is off limits. Like, how powerful is that statement? And there's, like, always a way, right? Like, sometimes it will come with sacrifices or making choices or hard work, but there's a way to do the things that you want to do. So I think starting there is so empowering.
Shannon Russell
Yes, and we can always go back. So that's always a good thing to think, is you're still a teacher. You can go back and do that anytime you want. I can go back and produce. I always say, if Oprah calls, right, I'll go running. But yeah, it's like, that's still a part of us. So I think when you think of it that way, in your mindset, you're not really giving too much up, because, you know, it's still a part of you.
Lily Jones
Yes, for sure. And so thinking about teachers who might be wanting to embark on a second act, what advice would you give them about transitioning out of the classroom?
Shannon Russell
I think really dive into all of the skills. And I love working with teachers, and I tend to work with a lot of them that come to me, and it's teachers do so much. It's just the leadership, the time management, the presentations that you give, the writing of the curriculum. So there's just so many elements. I mean, admin, right? Dealing with all the paperwork, communication with families and administration. So really, there's so many things that you can do, and what I often suggest to people is, when you're thinking of starting a second act, look at those things that you can do, and then really dial into what you want to do, and, more importantly, what you don't want to do, because you can be really good at something and just not want to do it anymore. And when you're starting a second act, you can be a little choosy, right? So if you don't necessarily like speaking in front of people, and you know the kids were enough and you don't want to have to do that anymore, then make sure that you're choosing your next path that doesn't include that aspect of education. But yeah, I think so teachers can really look at their list of skills and accomplishments, narrow it down to what they would love to do. And is it a business? Is it still staying in education? Is it taking experience and going to work for another company? Is it taking everything that you've taught and creating an online Etsy shop to sell your digital products. You know, there's just so many things, but it's that first conversation with yourself to really narrow in which direction you want to go, and then you can go from there.
Lily Jones
I appreciate that distinction too, of what you're good at and what you want to focus on. And I think particularly for teachers, we can feel like, Oh, well, we do so much, right? And we're so used to this pace of like, doing so much, and we're pretty good at a lot of those things. And so it can get confusing to really say, Hey, I'm good at this, but I don't want to do it. Can feel very foreign for some of us.
Shannon Russell
Yeah, but I think that's important in keeping you aligned again, you know, like, if you want to, you don't want to wake up every day and know that you have to do the one thing that you may be good at but don't want to do. So just realize that you're, you know, moving forward and and I'm certified in UMap, which is one of the many career assessments there are out there. And what I love about UMap is that it really dials into your personality, your values, your skills, and so you have that almost roadmap that when you're looking at other opportunities, you can come back and say, You know what, no, because that opportunity is going to have the leadership and presentation skills that I may not want anymore. So that you map actually just really helps you stay the course. So I think if you can narrow in on what you really don't want to do and circle it in red then and keep that near you for when those other opportunities come. Because sometimes, when you are unhappy in a situation, you want to jump, you jump at whatever that first opportunity is instead of really thinking about it, because you're just so unhappy. And I urge people to do that research and make sure that you're learning and then leaping into something that you really want, so you don't end up in the same position again. Just miserable.
Lily Jones
Yes. I've worked with a lot of people who say they took the first job out of the classroom that they found and then were like, Oh, I actually don't want to do this. And I think that's okay, too. I mean, I think ideally, right, we have the intention that we're clear on what we want to do, and then sometimes we have to try it out and know that it's not the thing, and realize that by really doing it. And so I think sometimes it can just be a little messy too.
Shannon Russell
But then, you know, right? Or there's something about always knowing and not wondering. So if you do try it and it's not for you, then you can either go back into the classroom or pivot and try something else. But yeah, it's that knowledge is power kind of idea.
Lily Jones
Yeah, sometimes it helps us get clear on our skills and what we want to do what we don't want to do, just by having as many of these experiences as possible.
Shannon Russell
Yeah, it leads you to where you're meant to be.
Lily Jones
Absolutely, and so thinking about your own journey, you know, starting off in TV and then moving to doing your franchise and then starting your own business, I'm curious what you've just learned about yourself along the way.
Shannon Russell
Oh, that's a good question. I think, well, I know that I've learned that I can do hard things that I can do things that, you know, really align with me and my values. Because I know with television, a lot of friends and even family were saying, Well, why would you leave that? You know, kind of glamorous ish, you know, kind of industry that's well paying. And for me, I just knew that I wanted to try something different, so just to know that you kind of can be self aware and and stay in your lane, and I think that's kind of what I did. I just said, Okay, everyone like, trust me, I'm going to try this, and it's going to work, and I'm a hard worker, and it did work. And then I was like, Ooh, I want to start another business, and now I want to start a podcast, and I want to do this, and I want to write a book, and then you just, I don't know, for me, I found that, like when I could try something new, that it was exciting, and that challenge was great, and it made me want to challenge myself again. So I think there's something about, you know, starting over that kind of fills you up a little bit and makes you excited to see what else you can do.
Lily Jones
I love that. And absolutely it's like, sometimes we can just talk ourselves out of so many ideas. And so once you start saying yes to an idea of, like, well, maybe, what if I try it out, then you realize so much is possible, and it can be this ripple effect.
Shannon Russell
Yeah, and to really, you know, have those conversations with yourself, and maybe don't include everyone around you who might be a little bit more fear based than you are. And that's where the research comes into it, right? You research, and you're like, Yeah, you know what that really does sound like something. Let me try it out, because we can do so many hard things that we don't give ourselves credit for, you know? And so it's, it's interesting to see where we can go if we let ourselves just take that step.
Lily Jones
Good advice. Yeah, you deserve it to yourself to try and see how it goes, and not to always wonder, what if I tried this, or what if I took this leap? You know, it doesn't mean necessarily, if you're a classroom teacher and thinking about starting something new, that you're like, I'm quitting tomorrow and like going all in, but you can take these baby steps, like you're saying to research, to do one thing that leads to another, and then really follow it through.
Shannon Russell
Yeah, and while you're working, is a great time too, because if you're teaching in the classroom now's a perfect time to find those minutes in your day or after school where you can update your LinkedIn, update your resume, you know, do those little things where you know you don't, you don't just quit, and then now you have this long list of things that you need to do. Start working on it slowly and surely. Now, while you're earning that paycheck, while you have that stability, and you'll just be that much further along.
Lily Jones
Great advice. And I'm curious, for teachers who want to start their own businesses. If you have any advice for them, I often work with teachers who are amazing educators and have so much great experience, but just like myself, many years ago, like don't have any experience starting a business. So what would you say to them?
Shannon Russell
I was there because really with my first franchise business, if I didn't have that, you know, support from the corporate office and the other franchisees. I was really figuring it out on my own. So it's possible, I always say that when you're thinking about a business, to again, do the research of people who have open similar businesses. And it can be people, you know, just businesses that you see online in other states, but you can research. You can look at their Google reviews, their Yelp reviews, what products or services are they offering, what's the price point? So you can start to do that research, and then really see, does this seem like something that I can do? And then, what is that story? I'm really big on the career story of you know, okay, you were in the classroom. This is what you did, and now you're going to open this business. What is that thread that brings you from that to this to make you the perfect business owner to launch this business? And as you pull that all together again, the confidence will come and the you know feeling secure and assured that you're on the right path. But. That research really make sure that it sounds like something that you want to do, and then decide if you're doing it alone, if you're doing with someone else, and start with those small steps that we just talked about, and build it slow. Start it on the side, you know, see what your customers or clients would want from you, and get that feedback, that market research is really invaluable.
Lily Jones
I love the focus on the story in particular. I think that's so important, and something that we can kind of miss sometimes, or it can be less clear. And I know some advice I always give teachers that I'm working with is like, just talk about your experience and what you want to do next. And through the talking about it with people, you often get clearer on your story, because you're like, Oh, this is the connection, or this is what resonated with people, or where I saw them nodding their head, or whatever it might be, but practicing telling your story can help it become clearer.
Shannon Russell
That's such good advice. It really is. Okay. Awesome.
Lily Jones
Well, Shannon, it's been so great to talk with you. Can you tell folks where they can connect with you?
Shannon Russell
Yes, I'm at second act. Success.co, is my website and all over social media, second act. Success.co, or second act success, and my LinkedIn is Shannon Russell, Career Coach, wonderful.
Lily Jones
We'll put all the links in the show notes. It was so nice to talk with you.
Shannon Russell
So great to talk to you Lily. Thank you for having me.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai