The Second Mountain is Calling. Are You Ready to Climb?

Dear Friends -

Recently, I listened to a powerful conversation with David Brooks, the bestselling author and New York Times columnist, who’s spent years exploring how people craft meaningful lives—especially after conventional success.

Brooks describes life in two phases:

• The First Mountain is about achievement, ambition, and proving yourself.

• The Second Mountain is about purpose, connection, and becoming who you were meant to be.

He shared how his own “valley”—a period of emotional upheaval after divorce—led him to an unexpected community and, ultimately, a deeper, more fulfilling version of himself.

Here’s what struck me most:
You don’t have to hit rock bottom to begin again.
You just have to notice the nudge—that whisper that says, “There’s more to you than this.”

👀 David is part of the faculty for the Leadership and Society Initiative (LSI) at the University of Chicago—one of many programs emerging at top universities to help accomplished professionals design their next chapter. Participants are investing $50K–$70K to return to school in search of meaning and direction.

While these cohort-based programs can be transformative, you don’t need a university price tag 🏷️ to begin your journey. I help people uncover what’s next—at a fraction of the cost. If you’re ready to explore your own second mountain (or as I call it, Act Three), book some time on my calendar.

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🔥 Real-Life Reinvention:

• A high-powered prosecutor left the courtroom behind to write a play about Anne Boleyn—her childhood obsession.

• A CEO joined a multigenerational cohort, not to teach, but to learn—and rediscovered joy in mentorship.

• Brooks himself joined a Thursday night dinner with 40 kids and 15 mattresses. Seven years later, he was a different man.

Their stories share one thing:
They said yes to purpose over prestige. They embraced curiosity over comfort.

🧠 Try This: The Second Mountain Spark

Ask yourself:

• What was I passionate about before the world told me who to be?

• What big problem in the world feels personal to me?

• What might be asking for my help—even if I feel “unqualified”?

You don’t need a master plan to begin. You just need a bias toward action.

✨Your Turn

You’ve already climbed one mountain. Now it’s time to ask—what kind of legacy do you want to leave on the second?

Here’s the conversation that I listened to - now available on YouTube:

And I highly recommend David’s book:

Please subscribe and forward this newsletter to others who are thinking about planning their third act. Thanks for your support 🙏.

Warm regards,

Cara Gray
Third Act Consultant, CPRC, CEPA™️

P.S. If you want to start planning your third act, set up a time on my calendar for a chat: Schedule a Chat with Cara