So....are you a Jackhammer or a Hummingbird? Finding your Groove after 60

College roommates, friends for life and as different as we are similar.

As often happens, my best friend of 40+ years and I are exactly alike—except in all of the ways that we are complete, polar opposites.

She’s brunette. I’m blonde.

She’s been married to the world’s most adoring husband for more than 30 years. I’ve been divorced for almost as long.

She’s pursued a challenging and rewarding corporate career. I’ve had 12 different jobs in almost as many industries.

When it comes to knowing what lights us up, my bestie is a Jackhammer. I’m a Hummingbird.

Author Elizabeth Gilbert (yes, the Eat Pray Love Elizabeth Gilbert) tells us that there are two kinds of passion-seekers looking to lead lives of purpose.

Some of us are Jackhammers, and some of us are Hummingbirds.

Meet the Jackhammers

Jackhammers are those people who knew at eight years old that they wanted to be marine biologists and are still talking about dolphins at dinner parties 40 years later. They go deep. They pick one thing and dig into it like a terrier after a bone.

Jackhammers don’t look up, don’t wander off, and don’t get distracted by shiny objects. They are laser-focused on the path forward.  Think the legendary Jane Goodall, tennis GOAT Serena Williams, or that friend who’s about to retire from teaching after 30 years in the classroom.

Jackhammers are amazing. Driven. Passionate. But for someone like me who can’t seem to commit to a single obsession, there’s (thank goodness) another way to live fully and beautifully.

Hello Fellow Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds, on the other hand, flit. We hover over one flower for a while, then zip off to another that catches our eye. We collect bits of inspiration everywhere we go — and create unexpected connections along the way.

For me, this meant starting my career as a fashion reporter, pivoting into freelance writing, a short stint as a childrenswear designer, stepping to forensic engineering, luxury real estate, school administration, non-profit fundraising, consumer goods branding and…..so on.

If this sounds like you? Congratulations. Welcome, fellow Hummingbird.

And before we start apologizing for our “lack of focus,” Gilbert insists that Hummingbirds are vital. We cross-pollinate ideas and experiences, connecting worlds that would never meet without us.

Why This Matters After 60

Our sixties are a strange, spectacular decade. For many women, it’s the first time in decades we’re not running on someone else’s schedule — kids, bosses, spouses, alarm clocks. Suddenly, the day stretches wide open like a fresh notebook.

What now? Do we have to start a business? Write a memoir? Learn pickleball?

And it’s entirely possible that our sixties could be the perfect time to switch our approach.

Cheers to Jackhammers who’ve left behind the grind and are morphing into ever-pollinating Hummingbirds. And congratulations to the Hummingbirds who are choosing to funnel all of their wisdom and energy into a singular, soul-lifting enterprise.

The Jackhammer vs. Hummingbird idea gives us permission to explore new options. It tells us we don’t have to define success the way we used to.

How to Embrace Your Inner (Jackhammer or Hummingbird)

1. Take inventory. Look back at your life. Were you the person who did a deep dive into one career or someone whose job path had more twists and turns than a roadmap through the Rocky Mountains.

2. Release the pressure. You don’t have to pick one “thing” and make it your brand. Hummingbirds thrive by tasting everything life offers.

3. Try micro-adventures. Take a class. Start a small creative project. Host a dinner club. Try it, enjoy it, and move on guilt-free if it doesn’t stick.

4.  Jackhammer with grace. If you are the focused type, go for it — but leave space for breathers. You’ve earned the right to pause without guilt.

5.  Write it down. Keep a “curiosity journal.” Note what catches your eye — a podcast topic, a color, a cause. Over time, a pattern (or three) will appear.

Permission to Play

Whether you’re a Jackhammer or a Hummingbird, this is your moment to reclaim curiosity — to wander, to dig, to play. There’s no deadline. There’s no wrong answer.

If you want to dive deep into one great cause, do it. If you’d rather sample fifty smaller ones, go ahead and be gloriously inconsistent.

After all, you’ve already done the serious stuff: raised families, led teams, kept the wheels turning. Now is the time to color outside the lines.

So, grab your metaphorical wings or your trusty drill and get out there!

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HELL YEAH!

Interested in diving deeper into understanding what you’ve learned in your later years? Click here to download 15 prompts to help you uncover your evolution and plan for even more.

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LET’S TALK ABOUT IT:

What's your style...Jackhammer or Hummingbird, and how is it working for you? If you are unsure, share this post with a friend and ask to assess your style.

If you were to switch your styles, how would your perspective change?