Whether it be art, gardening, health and fitness, or animals, we all have different things that we’re passionate about. But, unfortunately, these interests don’t always line up with what we do day to day in our professional lives.
However, nowadays, more and more people are using the freedom and flexibility of later life to make bold career changes, so they can spend their days doing something they enjoy.
One person who’s doing just that is 58-year-old father-of-two Mark Pearson. After he was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2006, Mark was left with life-changing injuries that affected both his personal life and his work.
A self-described ‘doer’, Mark particularly struggled with the sedentary life of his recovery, during which he had to quit his job as a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Driver. But the one thing that’s been consistent in his life, and that’s kept him going through all the hard times, has been his beloved German Shepherds.
So, now (even though he’s got his HGV licence back) Mark’s making the first steps to pursuing a career in dog training; something that’s always been close to his heart.
“HGV driving is kind of like a comfort zone for me. When you have that licence, you know that companies won’t stop short of sending a taxi to your house to come and collect you”
Over the years, Mark has had an interesting and varied career. After leaving school in 1979, he entered into an apprenticeship and trained to be a panel beater and spray painter.
Mark says, “I’ve always had a passion for cars and motorcycles, so I stuck with that for a few years. But as cars became more replaceable and people didn’t bring them in for things like a re-spray or new wings – which is the kind of work I liked – I had to make a change.”
Mark had always wanted to drive wagons, “The bigger the better”, as he explains. So, after his time as a panel beater and paint sprayer, he decided to get his class 1 heavy goods driving licence. And, over the years, as he’s explored different careers like being a pub landlord and working on motorcycles, it’s provided him with a valuable safety net…
“HGV driving is kind of like a comfort zone for me. When you have that licence, you know that companies won’t stop short of sending a taxi to your house to come and collect you to drive the wagons.
“In my eyes, it’s always been a reliable way of earning an income. So, if I’ve ever been at a point in my life when I’m not happy doing something, I can always go and drive wagons and earn a living while I make a decision.”
But, on the 17th of September in 2006, Mark was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him with life-changing injuries.
“I guess when you’re under that much pressure, something’s got to give”
Speaking about the consequences of the accident, Mark says, “I’ve had to have surgery on my right shoulder twice. It works, but not very well. This means that I don’t always have proper use of my right hand, which is my dominant hand.
“I’ve also got two discs in my neck that are compressed and rub on my spinal cords. I’ll need a new right knee and right hip at some point as well. But I thought I’m too young for that and I’ve got a lot of living left to do, so I just soldier through the pain.”
To make things more difficult for Mark, the legal process following the accident took seven years to reach its conclusion. And, although he eventually was compensated, Mark’s challenges weren’t over…
“Just after the insurance companies agreed on my compensation, my divorce papers landed. So at one minute, it was elation and the next, I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, here we go again.’”
To top things all off, one day, when Mark was working up a ladder, he lost consciousness. After waking up on the floor moments later, he went to see a doctor and received yet more bad news…
“After a few tests, the doctor looked at my history. She took into account the accident, the claims process, and my divorce. And, to cut a long story short, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. I guess when you’re under that much pressure, something’s got to give.”
“I’m a proud man. I have two grown-up daughters and grandchildren, and I want them to be proud of me”
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), as it’s also known, is a long term health condition that can affect lots of people differently. There’s a wide range of symptoms (you can read up about them all here on the NHS website). But the most common of all is feeling excessively tired to the point where it may make it difficult to do daily activities, even after proper rest or sleep.
Mark explains, “When I was diagnosed with CFS, I was told I shouldn’t be working. But that wasn’t an option for me. I couldn’t really afford not to and I’m also a proud man. I have two grown-up daughters and grandchildren, and I want them to be proud of me.
“I’m also a determined person. So when I lost my heavy goods licence as a result of the accident, I said to myself, ‘That’s my way of making a living and I need to get it back.’ So eventually I did get it back and I still do heavy goods driving to this day. But I have a lot of aches and pains, so I’m always looking for something to make my life easier.”
It was this kind of mindset that spurred Mark to start thinking about alternative employment arrangements, and one that came to mind was something he’d been passionate for as long as he could remember…dogs!
“At that time, when the chips were down, Leo was my reason to get up in the morning”
“I’ve always had German Shepherds,” Mark explains. “I’m actually on my fifth one now. My dogs are the one thing that’s been consistent in my life and they’ve kept me going through all the rough times.
“During this really tough time in my life, I had Leo. He was a brilliant dog. While I was having surgery, I couldn’t go to work, which made me feel really low. I’m a do-er, and to be sitting at home was against my nature. To make things worse, I couldn’t use my right arm, so even getting into the garage to tinker with my bikes was really frustrating.
“At that time, when the chips were down, Leo was my reason to get up in the morning. He didn’t give me a choice, really, because he’d come upstairs to get me. And when I took him out, I’d always meet and speak to new people.”
Mark raised and trained Leo from a puppy so their bond was incredibly strong. But, sadly, in April of 2011, Leo passed away suddenly…
“We were out for a walk one day and there was a thud. I looked back and he was lying on his side – his legs were moving slightly and his eyes were glazed over. Although he was 42kg, I carried him for nearly a mile to get him out of the country park we were in. I wasn’t in the best of health myself, but I knew I was losing my best friend.
“When we got to the vet, they couldn’t find anything wrong with him. But I knew he wasn’t right. I didn’t go to bed for the next four nights. Instead, I slept downstairs on the sofa and put his bed next to me. He kept getting a hold of my hand with his mouth and bringing it down to me. I lost him a few days later.”
Although Mark was devastated by Leo’s death, he eventually got another dog, Blue, who he describes as his “therapy dog” – and now Bear. Speaking about Bear, Mark says, “He’s 14 months old and he’s proving to be the biggest challenge of all. But he’s also so funny and so clever.”
“Dog training is something that’s going to give me great pleasure while contributing to my pension as I get older”
Considering Mark’s experience with and his passion for dogs, his decision to train to become a Dog Trainer seems like a no-brainer. But Mark says it’ll also be a great way to top up his pension and start crafting his ideal lifestyle…
“Although I enjoy it, I don’t want to be driving wagons until I’m 70. I do have a pension, but due to my injuries and what have you, I’ve missed a few years. And while I don’t see dog training as a big money-spinner, it’s something that’s going to give me great pleasure while contributing to my pension as I get older.
“One of the things that gave me the push to go for it was when I spoke to Dave Miller, who bred my dogs. He’s brilliant with dogs – he breeds, trains, and shows – and I’ve learnt a lot from him. But when I told him that I was thinking about going on this course, he said, ‘With what you’re going to learn and what you already know, when you’re done, you’ll be able to teach me!’
“Of course, I’m going to charge for my service once I’m qualified, but it’s not a cut and dry profession. It’s not like going into a shop, picking something up, buying it, and walking out. What excites me about dog training is that it’s all about building relationships – with both the dogs and their owners.”
Final thoughts from Mark…
Despite all that Mark’s been through, it seems that nothing has managed to break his positive attitude towards life. Currently in the process of moving into his houseboat, Mark has high hopes for the future…
“I’m looking forward to a peaceful lifestyle. I can sit outside at night with the dog, feeding the swans and what have you, with the country right on my doorstep. And, of course, I’m looking forward to starting my dog training course shortly too.
“I want to enjoy life, work for as long as I can, and keep my positive attitude! I might be 60 next year, but I don’t think I act like it.”
If you’d like to hear more stories about later-life career changers like Mark, then why not head over to the jobs section of our website where we have a range of real-life personal stories from other inspiring people?