The Second Act

F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote, “There are no second acts in American lives.”

Coming from one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, the line sounds so definitive that one almost wants to believe it. That is, until you realise that Fitzgerald himself was living proof of instant success in 1920’s, followed by a second act post the great depression, when he attempted to reinvent himself as a Hollywood screenwriter and author, until his death at an early age of 44. In fact, much of his fame grew after his death.

So in this piece, I’ll take on two key questions. Do second acts exist? If so, what does it take to have one?

First though, why must you care?

The Conundrum

Having coached several high achievers and c-suite leaders, I note that for one reason or another, we often take on a career and believe that this is us for life — our domain, our expertise, our zone of genius. Much of this is due to social conditioning to pick one thing and do it well, and there remains pressure to sustain a vertical climb. Over time, your career becomes so embedded in your identity that it’s hard to tell one from the other. Until there comes a moment, when what was fulfilling, fails to be so, or a redundancy package shatters the indispensability and indefensibility myth.

In deeply personal, silent, and often lonely moments such as these, second acts beckon.

‘The graveyards are filled with indispensable people.’ — Charles de Gaulle

Do Second Acts Exist?

The good news is that they do, and there are several instances of famous people who’ve successfully demonstrated not just second, but also third, and fourth acts.

The most recent example of this is Donald Trump, whose re-election in 2024 was nothing short of a miracle, especially after what the world witnessed on U.S. Capitol January of 2021. Also in the political arena, you have Winston Churchill, who was first elected as a conservative MP in 1900, before then defecting to the Liberal Party in 1904, where he was severally criticised for a disastrous naval attack on the Dardanelles, before resigning from his position as First Lord of Admiralty and being demoted. He later rejoined the Conservative Party and was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1924 to 1929, and once again heavily criticised for moves such as returning the Sterling to Gold Standard in 1925. He’s today considered one of the greatest leaders of all time, mainly for his role as the British Prime Minister during World War II.

In a more corporate set up, you have Steve Jobs was famously removed from Apple in 1985, after the board believed his management style to be chaotic, only to return in 1996 when Apple bought Jobs’ next venture, NeXT.

As for the creative space, we have Gloria Gaynor, who’s career took off in the disco era with ‘Never Can Say Goodbye,’ and despite several challenges, she not only re-emerged, but also continues to be an icon for spirit of surviving and shining through setbacks.

So yes, second acts exist.

Without the shadow of a doubt.

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan

What Does It Take?

Considering you’ve read this far, my gut here is that you’re wondering if you’d like a second act, or perhaps you could be staring at it in the face. So for those of you wondering what it takes, here are some rules of this game.

1. Find the courage to reimagine your identity

I hear many people hold on to their identities long after they’re gone. Even Steve Jobs had to disassociate from Apple, and attach his identity to the founder of NeXT, before he then became the CEO of Apple. Remember for you to write the next page of your story, you must turn the page.

2. Remember no one owes you anything

Oftentimes, we’re caught in the trap of who said what, and who did what, and why it’s all unfair. Just remember, it’s your job to redefine yourself, and no one owes you anything. Everyone has their work cut out, and while you deal with your battles, they’re busy dealing with theirs.

3. Learn your lesson

The past if full of lessons — lessons from things you did well, and things you didn’t do so well. Perhaps things you should have done and could have done. Instead of reminiscing and ruminating, take your lessons and move on to what’s next. Life only moves in one direction — forward.

4. Don’t seek to recreate the past

Whether you’re moving on from a huge success, or a catastrophic end, the whole idea is to move one and create something new. Even Da Vinci painted The Last Supper only once, before he moved on to Mona Lisa and other paintings. Your experience is your advantage, to create something new.

5. Take the opportunity, or better still, make it

It’s sometimes hard to start from scratch again, especially after you’ve enjoyed great fame and recognition in your first act. That moment when you’ve got to learn the ropes and go from being someone to being no one once again. Here’s a quote from Priyanka Chopra Jonas on redefining her career with a move to the US, after having established herself as a successful actor in India, ‘Just because a huge part of the world may know me, that doesn’t mean everyone should. It’s always hard when starting a new career. And I completely treated moving to America as a new career.’

Conclusion

The truth is that as we go through life’s changes — relationships, relocations, parenting responsibilities, caring duties, all our lives are full of second, third and fourth acts; and sometimes it takes a moment to recognise our own perseverance. The only difference being that for some, the second act is a conscious choice, while for others, the choice is made for them. Also, some of us invest in the second act while still running the first, while others take time out from one act, before starting on the next one.

As with most things in life, there isn’t a right way to do this, or an easy way. But what you must know, is that there is a way that’s right for you — and with perseverance, you’ll find it.

About me

I’m a personal coach for executives, senior global leaders, and keynote speaker — passionate about provoking thought and making change happen. My philosophy is simple — be strong in body, clear in mind and smart with money.

My diverse career spans four industries, three countries, and senior leadership roles at some of the world’s most influential institutions including Monzo Bank, HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, BSkyB, WNS, and The Oberoi Group of Hotels. Along the way, I’ve learned that the right support at the right time can transform careers — and lives. So as a coach, I go beyond vertical growth, and career moves, and offer a more holistic perspective — covering topics such as mental, physical and financial wellbeing. As example, my clients and I often cover matters such as taking charge of your wellbeing, finding the courage to quit, making a career switch, dealing with life events, regaining financial control, embarking on a fitness goal, and so on.

If you’d like to speak, please drop me a note on hello@vinitaramtri.com.

Website: vinitaramtri.com