How to Design Your Next Chapter in Life and Work | Janet Macaluso

Designing Your Second Chapter: A Conversation with Janet Macaluso

“Life begins at 40,” they say — but what if it actually begins when you decide to consciously design your next chapter?

Meet Janet Macaluso, founder of Learning2Lead, a movement helping mid-life changemakers, practical visionaries, and lifelong learners shift from success to significance. In this inspiring conversation, Janet shares her insights on how professionals can reinvent their work and life in meaningful, regenerative ways.

Why the Second Chapter Deserves Attention

While many of us spend our early lives focused on education, careers, and achievements, Janet reminds us that we are now living 30 years longer than previous generations. That extra time is a gift — and an opportunity to consciously craft a fulfilling "second chapter."

“You go to school, get a job, get married, maybe get an MBA... and then what? You're supposed to retire, sit on a couch and watch TV for 30 years? That’s not living. That’s existing.” — Janet Macaluso

Janet's work centers around helping people move from a life of obligation and auto-pilot to one of design, alignment, and deep purpose.

The Tools of Transformation

Through her company, Learning2Lead, Janet uses a powerful blend of:

• Socratic Questioning — to spark deep reflection and self-discovery.

• Living Systems Thinking — encouraging us to see ourselves not as machines, but as evolving systems.

• Anti-Hero Coaching — flipping the script on traditional guru-led coaching, Janet empowers individuals to become their own source of wisdom.

“I’m not here to give you a checklist. I’m here to help you find your own compass.”

Her approach is rooted in regeneration, reflection, and conscious reinvention — especially for mid-life professionals ready to live with greater freedom, vitality, and impact.

From Corporate Boardrooms to Soulful Retreats in Spain

After a successful corporate career leading executive development for Fortune 200 companies, Janet chose to follow her own advice: she designed her second chapter by moving to the south of Spain, where she now hosts transformational leadership retreats.

These are not your average off-sites. Imagine hiking through Andalusian landscapes, journaling under olive trees, and engaging in rich dialogue with like-hearted leaders.

“As I led those retreats for others, I kept thinking — this is the life I want. So I designed it. And now I help others do the same.”

The Third Line Mastermind

Launching soon is Janet’s signature program: The Third Line Mastermind — a year-long journey for professionals ready to:

• Rewire old thinking

• Unlearn outdated patterns

• Reinvent their lives and leadership for the betterment of both self and society

“We are always becoming. The only question is — do you want to drift, or do you want to design?”

If you're curious about what's possible in your next chapter, this could be your invitation to begin.

Connect with Janet

Whether you're looking for executive coaching, a soulful retreat in Spain, or a community of fellow explorers designing their second acts, Janet is here to help.

🔗 Visit: learning2lead.com📩 Email: janet@learning2lead.com

She is currently accepting applications for her founder’s group, an intimate circle of growth-minded professionals ready to lead from a deeper, more conscious place.

Your Next Chapter Starts Now

Janet Macaluso invites us to reimagine the future not as something that happens to us, but something we get to design consciously. If you feel a nudge that there’s more to life, more to give, more to become — consider this your sign.

Your second chapter awaits. Make it your masterpiece.

via IFTTT