Jordan, 52, who was born and raised in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay area, works at Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, where she is assistant vice-president and manager of furniture services and warehousing. She started with the bank in 1975 and administers a staff of four project managers and eight warehousemen, and manages two warehouses filled with what she called "excess product,"
When Jordan joined Wells Fargo, she learned that the company had a personal growth program that offered any employee with 10 years on the job the opportunity to take a three-month paid leave to "do something you want to pursue in life you can't do because of having to work a forty-hour week," says Jordan.
Three Goals, "I wanted to do something for myself," she says. "I was tired, overweight, and out of shape." She applied to Wells Fargo for her personal growth leave and it was granted. Because she had vacation time coming, she tied it into her leave, which gave her four months off with pay. She began her leave with three goals in mind: to get down to her college weight; to place fifth or better in the World Masters Swimming Championships in Brisbane, Australia (she placed fifth on the U.S. Olympic Team in Helsinki in 1952); and swim within 30 percent of her 1:16.8 Olympic time for the 100-meter backstroke.
Off she went to Walnut Creek, California, to train with the Walnut Creek Masters-"about 250 persons 19 to 90 years old," she says. For three months Jordan swam twice a day, lifted weights, jogged, and watched her diet. She worked 10 hours a day and lost 35 pounds, slimming down to her Olympic weight. "It was physically tough but not as mentally tough as working in the bank," she says, Jordan spent a week and a half in Brisbane and, lo and behold, won four first places-in the 100- (1.28.1) and 200-meter backstroke and on two relay teams. When Jordan returned from Brisbane she was "athletically in shape" and determined to stay that way. She claims she has as much or more stamina than peers in their thirties. She swims every morning for an hour and fifteen minutes at the Piedmont Swim Club and is at work at the bank by 8:00 a.m. She also swims in the evening with the Masters at Walnut Creek three times a week.
Staying Active, She now keeps active competitively, swimming at Masters Championship meets in various parts of the country. "This experience has given me a good feeling about Wells Fargo, and it has made me a better employee," she says.
"I’ve met a brand-new group of healthy people at Walnut Creek who are stimulating to be around. There is no distinction of age, which is quite remarkable." Jordan not only achieved her three goals but renewed her business and personal life in the process.
As you can see, there are various ways to realize one's goals. Knowing what you want and planning to achieve it can smooth the road ahead. Sometimes fate or luck or both play a part. But the new young achieve success by following their instincts, by traveling new roads, and by not being afraid to take risks. These examples of successful 50-plus professionals emphasize the importance of controlling your destiny. You must decide what you want to do with your life and career. What kind of job do you want? A full-time job, a part-time job, or one that lets you work two or three days a week? We can't promise you a job or get you a job, but we can point you in the right direction and tell you what to do, what problems you'll face and how to handle them, what companies are seeking in the employees they hire, and start you on an exciting life and career adventure.
