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The Second 40: Burn the Rulebook and Become the Entrepreneur You Were Meant To Be
If your job feels like a slow death in a nice suit, this book is your exit plan.
Most people spend their prime years climbing ladders that don't lead anywhere they actually want to go. If you're starting to wonder if this is all there is, if you've waited too long to do work that matters, The Second 40 hands you the roadmap to build something better.
You don't need a second career. You need to own your first business. And you need a step-by-step way to create it without burning your life to the ground.
Paul Wildrick has started 14 businesses, acquired six more, coached hundreds of CEOs, and led his own startup to a $50M valuation. After a short-lived "retirement," he came back to business because, let's face it, it's more thrilling than coasting.
In this no-BS guide, Paul gives you the tools, mindset, and real-world strategies to finally figure out how to become a successful entrepreneur, without throwing everything away to do it.
In this book, you'll learn how
Reclaim your "second 40" hours a week and put them to work building something of your own.Shift from employee mindset to business owner without blowing up your life.Identify the right kind of purpose-driven, freedom-based business for your values, lifestyle, and income goals.Create a practical, step-by-step plan that you can implement while you're still working.Build a business that reflects who you are, and gives you more time, meaning, and financial freedom than you thought possible.You've waited long enough. This book will help you build what's next, on your terms, at your pace, with no permission needed. The Second 40 is your guide to finally owning the life and business you've earned the right to create.
Most people spend their prime years climbing ladders that don't lead anywhere they actually want to go. If you're starting to wonder if this is all there is, if you've waited too long to do work that matters, The Second 40 hands you the roadmap to build something better.
You don't need a second career. You need to own your first business. And you need a step-by-step way to create it without burning your life to the ground.
Paul Wildrick has started 14 businesses, acquired six more, coached hundreds of CEOs, and led his own startup to a $50M valuation. After a short-lived "retirement," he came back to business because, let's face it, it's more thrilling than coasting.
In this no-BS guide, Paul gives you the tools, mindset, and real-world strategies to finally figure out how to become a successful entrepreneur, without throwing everything away to do it.
In this book, you'll learn how
Reclaim your "second 40" hours a week and put them to work building something of your own.Shift from employee mindset to business owner without blowing up your life.Identify the right kind of purpose-driven, freedom-based business for your values, lifestyle, and income goals.Create a practical, step-by-step plan that you can implement while you're still working.Build a business that reflects who you are, and gives you more time, meaning, and financial freedom than you thought possible.You've waited long enough. This book will help you build what's next, on your terms, at your pace, with no permission needed. The Second 40 is your guide to finally owning the life and business you've earned the right to create.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
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589 people want to read
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Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The Second 40 is a bold, honest, and energizing guide for professionals who know they’re capable of more, but don’t want to burn their lives down to find it. Paul Wildrick speaks directly to a growing audience of high performers who feel trapped in respectable careers that no longer fit. With clarity and urgency, he reframes entrepreneurship not as a reckless leap, but as a disciplined, intentional transition built alongside real life.
What makes this book stand out is its practicality paired with credibility. Wildrick’s experience starting, acquiring, and scaling businesses comes through in every chapter, yet the tone remains grounded and accessible. Rather than glorifying hustle or overnight success, The Second 40 focuses on reclaiming time, shifting mindset, and building a business aligned with values, freedom, and long-term sustainability. This is an empowering roadmap for anyone ready to stop postponing meaningful work and start building what’s next, on their own terms.
What makes this book stand out is its practicality paired with credibility. Wildrick’s experience starting, acquiring, and scaling businesses comes through in every chapter, yet the tone remains grounded and accessible. Rather than glorifying hustle or overnight success, The Second 40 focuses on reclaiming time, shifting mindset, and building a business aligned with values, freedom, and long-term sustainability. This is an empowering roadmap for anyone ready to stop postponing meaningful work and start building what’s next, on their own terms.
Displaying 1 of 1 review