If You’re Serious About Reinvention, Buy the Tripod and Hit Record 

You’ve worked hard, maybe you’ve raised a family, got divorced, or survived something you don’t like to talk about. If you’ve made it to midlife, chances are, you’ve got some battle scars … and stories.

But if you’re planning a second act, whether it’s a book, a business, or a run for office, there’s no getting around it: People need to see your face.

Welcome to the Attention Economy

Long gone are the days when an innovative idea was enough to land a full-page spread in a glossy magazine. Now we can reach almost anyone with a click of a button—but so can everyone else. And, since we collectively have the attention span of a squirrel, standing out feels like a full-time job.

That’s why when I decided to expand my portfolio to include travel writing, I signed up for a content creation retreat at Masseria Specula, in Puglia, Italy, with Riva G, a yoga influencer and creative director with 766K Instagram followers. Riva G’s retreat offered a chance for both influencers and people like me—aka people who don’t know the difference between a Reel and a Story—to learn how to leverage Instagram to create compelling content.

When Yoga Models Make You Question Everything

Social media can be a cesspool. Most people have a love/hate relationship with it. But, it’s also the fastest way to be seen. If you ignore it, you, and your brand, might disappear. I’ve spent enough of my life disappearing. Now, I want to be front and center in my own story.

I didn’t have high expectations for myself when I signed up for the retreat. Mostly, I wanted to know what to do with my face when a camera was pointed in my direction and how to take a selfie that doesn’t make my neck look like a Shar-Pei.

I showed up to the spectacular beachside farmhouse on the Ionian Sea, feeling insecure. We were 10 women ranging in age from early 30s to 50 plus, and every single one of them was yoga-model gorgeous. I wanted to bury myself on the sandy beach where we were about to do our first video shoot.

From Panic Mode to Main Character Energy

For our group Reel, the plan was to shoot a few quick yoga poses in unison.

“How hard could this be?” I thought.

An hour later, with multiple takes, and everyone switching positions in our V-shaped formation, we were fighting daylight and craving the homemade pasta we’d been promised. Until this moment, I had no idea how much work went into making a Reel.

It was awkward. I didn’t know how to pose. Where do I put my hands? Why was everyone so much taller than me? Is my hair too big? Is this really worth it? I was struggling. But I had to put my preconceived notions about social media aside and focus.

Women Reinventing Themselves in Midlife

After the group project we had to come up with one of our own. I went into full-on panic mode … I wasn’t ready to be the main character in my Reel. But then I did what any business woman who was about to reinvent herself would do. I took a breath, focused, and decided it was time to go all in. I named my Reel The Day in the Life of a Travel Writer.

Riva, who left her job as a software engineer to follow her passion, told me to take it slow and it would all fall into place.

At her suggestion, I walked the cobblestone streets of Grottaglie, Puglia, looking for unexpected details: ceramic shops filled with light and color, restaurants where I could spotlight chefs, and narrow streets with hidden nooks and crannies.

By midweek, I wasn’t just creating content, I was rethinking my whole approach to branding. This wasn’t about vanity. It was about visibility … and confidence.

I wasn’t alone. Every woman at the retreat had shown up to reimagine what came next. We were different ages and backgrounds—but all of us were building something new.

Some women had already cracked the code.

Charlotte Chabot was burnt out from her consulting job, craving movement and creativity. So she signed up for a yoga training course and changed her life. Now she’s an influencer with an Instagram account that’s jam-packed with tutorials, creative flows, and motivation.

Sticking to the mat, Nicci Rothe turned content into opportunity by starting Hot Flash Yoga for menopausal women—if yoga can help with night sweats, I’m in. Others, like bodybuilder Natalia K Hanton, help women hit the weight room to gain strength and confidence.

As for me? I was catching up fast. My Reel was coming together.

When I returned from the retreat, I realized I was only in phase one of my reinvention. After Italy, I headed to Spain and signed up for a curated-fashion experience with Seville Hidden Treasures. If I was going to be in front of the camera making travel content, I wanted to dress the part. Co-owners Sandra Molies and Stephanie Moreno strongly encouraged me to try on items that I never would have pulled off the rack. They did it within my budget and with minimal tears. Then, I encouraged them to make a Reel about it!

With the tools and confidence to build my brand, I was ready to embrace reinvention full-on. How about you?

Now It’s Your Turn

Here’s how to get noticed on social media.

Get out of your own way

Embrace the cringe, step out of your comfort zone, and commit to having fun. Pro tip: Your audience will even love your bloopers.

Reframe your perspective

Curate your feed to focus on what speaks to you. Don’t get sucked into time-wasting dialogue with internet trolls. Focus on your messaging.

Social media isn’t a guilty pleasure

It’s part of your marketing plan. This is your job, so spend a certain amount of time each day on it, and stick with it.

Invest in the right equipment

If you’re making Reels, don’t be that person who relies on other people to film you. Get a tripod. Check your lighting. Practice your angles and poses. Do multiple takes. Here are Riva G’s top content creation must-haves.

Stop selling products—sell yourself

The wares you’re hawking aren’t your memoir or your handmade jewelry. It’s your expertise, your voice, and your brand. You have two seconds to wow people before they scroll by, so hook them immediately.

Bottom Line

You’re going to feel vulnerable. You might feel foolish. You can even turn your tripod into a coat rack. But you’re going to love the attention, and that’s the currency you and your brand need. Remember, visibility isn’t vanity. It’s power. Show up. Say the thing. Be weird. Hit record.

P.S. My Reel from Masseria Specula has gotten more views than anything I’ve ever posted on Instagram. I’m actively building my audience, landing new travel assignments, and learning which angles hide the fact that I haven’t had a full night’s sleep since my 30s. Time well spent.