After my midlife crisis, I knew I had to change.
Back in my early 40’s, I experienced a classic midlife crisis. The effects of my divorce were still lingering, and I began to question the point of living.
I’d gone from slaving for decades to create a property portfolio and build a great life, only to lose everything – my marriage, my money, and a good dose of my sanity.
Relief eventually came in the form of a few choice mentors (and an incredibly patient new wife) who believed in me long enough to pull me through. But the real turning point came when I owned up to my mistakes and began searching for a way to help myself by helping others.
The way I did that was through my first blog, called Midlife Tribe. Through that experience, I was able to put my failings under the microscope and share them with strangers all around the world. The result was a renewed sense of optimism and the resurgence of a feeling – long forgotten – that a more meaningful life was possible.
Over the course of three years, I spilled my guts out and shared the lessons I’d learned about relationships, depression, money and doing work that matters. Although I’ve received many letters and emails detailing the impact this had, I know it helped me more than anyone.
I learned that it’s possible to find purpose, happiness and peace of mind – even in your late forties.
The photo above is me on the way to visiting my mum down the coast – on a Tuesday. I used it because it reminds me how I felt that day (and all the days since), after I figured out how important it is to define success on your own terms; to live life on purpose.
I’ve always been a big proponent of remote work, because work/life flexibility lets you do stuff like this – spend more time with the people who really matter. However, it’s only part of the story. Thankfully, millions more people now understand just how good it can be – even if the reason that brought them here was a global health crisis.
Most people hate their job. But when they change how, when, and especially WHERE they do it, their life can change. It gives them more options with how they spend their time, and how they deliver value to those they serve.
Not long ago, my goal was to help 1,000 people gain control over how, where and when they work so they could spend more time with loved ones, reduce their stress levels, and pursue – maybe for the first time – something that matters to them.
Well, COVID-19 made sure of that – without any help from me. So then I devoted my energies to the huge opportunity this offered folks.
The Chance to Try Something New
Maybe you’re sick of staring at spreadsheets every day.
Maybe you’d like your kids to recognise you when you walk into the dining room.
Or perhaps you’ve had an entrepreneurial seizure (an urge to try something on your own), but you’re sh*t-scared to take the leap because, well, the mortgage, school fees, Netflix, running water…
I get it, and I agree. It’s one thing to go all Jerry Maguire, but it’s another to actually pull it off.
Of course, you could always build a side hustle, where you make a thing, sell a thing or write about a thing. I’m a huge fan of side-hustles; I’ve done many since I was a kid, and a few turned into careers and businesses. The trouble is, how do you figure out what that thing is?
I’ve built side projects for a long time, and I’ve helped others do the same, too. Working from home (and the half-dozen other places I hang out) might be the single best work/life decision I ever made, but it’s the other things I pursued on the side that really moved things up a notch.
The thing is, it wasn’t until I emerged from my midlife crisis that I realised how important it was to find something I truly enjoyed. Something that was its own reward, whether I got paid for it or not.
That’s why I returned to writing. It’s why, after shooting professionally for magazines then taking a two-decade break, I picked up photography again
So, I started this site to help people figure out their own path so they could climb the right mountain.
Should you trust me?
No, you shouldn’t – not until I’ve proven you can.
You needn’t buy anything from me, but if I make something and charge for it, rest assured I’ve invested lots of experience, time, and energy into its creation. If my ideas help, then maybe one day you’ll buy something I make. Or you’ll invite me to a TED talk or leave your classic ’93 Honda/Acura NSX to me in your will.
- If I charge for a product like a guide or workshop, it’s because a tonne of work went into creating it. Also, we don’t usually value the things we get for free, so sometimes we need to pay for things to get the value out of them. I’ve invested $1000’s in courses, and have completed most of them simply because I paid for them. If they’d been free, I would’ve given up on most of them before starting.
- If I recommend something to you, it’s because I’ve used it and benefitted from it. Yes, I might get a small commission if you buy it, but it won’t cost you any extra. Besides, you don’t have to buy it through me if you don’t want to, and if you don’t think it’ll help you, then don’t buy it from anywhere.
What I’m Focused on Now
For more than four years, I published a blog post at least once a fortnight (more often than not, every week), and for more than two years, that also included a podcast episode.
For someone already stretched with client work, it was tough maintaining this commitment, but I felt the work mattered and so the effort was warranted.
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Not long after my friend, Jon, entered palliative care, I decided to take stock of where I spent my time. I wanted to devote more energy to my son, Tommy, plus I wanted to pick up my camera again and spend more time in nature.
Since I began blogging in late 2015, I focused on issues around midlife reinvention, remote work, and finding your path to the work – and a life – that’s right for you. Here’s what I’m focused on today:
- After giving the idea a few months to percolate, I conceded, very willingly, that I’ll always be a photographer, so I returned to it. Check out my photography story at peterfritzphoto.com.
- In early 2022, I started filming videos about landscape photography. In late 2023, I introduced another great love – cars. I also started sharing more of the topics you may have read from me in the past. Take a look here.
- In 2025, I created an additional YouTube channel, focused on living more deliberately in midlife and beyond. It’s called The Act Two Project. It’s a development (and stronger reflection) of the topics I discussed on this website over the years.
- I’m refining a set of simple, practical tools to help you choose your pre or post-retirement project. The idea is based on a four-step process I’ve called Compass. It’s designed to help you decide what matters now, what conditions your next chapter needs, what options are in front of you, and what path makes the most sense. You can get a copy of the Compass Cheat Sheet here. It’s free.
