I quit my £100K a year sales role to become a Postman at 56

It’s a beautiful morning – the sun is peeking through the trees and there’s a light, pleasant breeze. 

If I hadn’t been out on my round, I may have missed this. I’ve already spoken with a handful of people this morning, as we passed on the street – their cheerfulness is infectious and I can’t stop smiling. 

At the end of my shift, I’m physically tired. I’ve walked about 14km today, but I look in the mirror and see I’m looking much healthier now. I know that I’m happy and fulfilled in my life.  

Of course, if you had told me just 18 months ago that I’d now be a postman, I’d never have believed it. It couldn’t have been further from my 40-year career in sales. 

I started my career in 1981. Over the years, I worked my way up to sales management and led accounts and teams, while handling multinational clients. 

I had really enjoyed my job – the environment was dynamic and exhilarating, full of opportunities – but, as I got older, I found I wanted more of a work-life balance. 

What appeals to me is the freedom, the ability to be out to meet people. I’m now doing a manual job that has no stress whatsoever (Picture: Phil Goddard)

I felt the pressure most in the months before I left the industry. My wife and I – between selling our house and waiting to move into a new-build – lived in a caravan. It was long hours in the cramped space, hunched over a laptop and calming stressful clients. I began to dread what the next day would bring and couldn’t switch off. 

The pandemic made it clear to me that I desperately needed a change. I had a period of furlough, which was an uncertain time, coupled with the social isolation of lockdown. Eventually, I was made redundant.  

In an instant, I’d gone from being someone who had a great career to worrying about whether I would find a new position. Fortunately, we’d already paid off our mortgage and were comfortable enough that I could get by without a high paying job. 

I did find another role in sales, but I soon discovered that I just wasn’t enjoying the industry any more. Full of anxiety, I wasn’t getting enough sleep. I could feel my high blood pressure getting worse. 

It was a difficult decision to quit my role, but as soon as I had, I felt about two-feet taller. I didn’t know what I wanted to do next, but I was craving social contact and wanted to improve my health. 

So when my wife alerted me to the post person job at Royal Mail, I felt like it ticked all the boxes. I had no prior experience, but that wasn’t a barrier. I felt my transferable skills helped me land the role. 

I was a bit nervous to be starting again. I asked a lot of questions at first – like how to organise and plan the delivery round, what order of routes to take and best practice – and felt a bit embarrassed to sometimes, but I settled in quickly. Only a few days into working as a postman, I had developed a sense of fulfilment that I had never found in other roles. 

What appeals to me most is the freedom and ability to be out, meeting people. I deliver locally and occasionally in my own village where I can see people I know. 

Unlike my previous jobs, I’m able to switch off at the end of my shift. I work 28 hours per week, starting at 8am and finishing by 2:30pm, with a day off each week. Every day is different, and I’m no longer worried about what tomorrow will bring. 

I shared my experience in a recent LinkedIn post and got a huge response. People were so moved by my decision, leaving comments like, ‘I want to be able to do that.’

There is a societal pressure to have a high salary – it’s almost seen as the defining measure of success, regardless of the fact that it can impact the rest of your life. In my case, customers called late in the evening and I was missing out on social and family time.  

I’ve redefined what success means to me in my 50s – before, I was frightened to leave my six figure salary behind, even though I wanted to try something new but now, my definition of success has shifted to prioritise my happiness and health.  

About five weeks into my new job, I was interviewed by age activism platform 55/Redefined’s founder and CEO Lyndsey Simpson for their podcast. 55/Redefined supports people over the age of 50 to retain their drive and find career and lifestyle options for them. 

More: Lifestyle

I’m part of their community of members and they have given me a platform to share my story. By working with them, I hope to encourage others to live their most fulfilled lives. 

To anyone thinking about a career change in your fifties, I’d say: go for it! It’s never too late to take a new direction in life. 

More than a year on, I’m still with Royal Mail, fitter, healthier, and a hell of a lot happier! The change has been absolutely transformative for me – it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 

Find out more about how to harness your potential over-50 at https://life-redefined.co/lifestyle. 

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