The Freedom to Change Your Life At Any Age
Thu Dec 04 2025
What happens when you trade decades in high-stakes consulting for sunrise mornings on a Texas ranch?
Today’s guest, Dave Worley, did exactly that and his story is a powerful reminder that your next chapter can be bold, unexpected, and deeply fulfilling.
After more than 25 years advising C-level leaders and driving business development at firms like PwC and CrossCountry Consulting, Dave made a life-changing pivot: stepping away from corporate life to run his family’s 120-year-old West Texas ranch.
In this conversation, he shares how he knew it was time to leave, what surprised him most about starting over, and the mindset shifts that helped him navigate divorce, reinvention, and retirement all at once.
We talk about:
✨ The realities of consulting — the pace, the pressure, and the thrill
✨ Why every career (and every relationship) involves selling
✨ How AI is reshaping professional services
✨ What happens emotionally when you outgrow a path you’ve been on for decades
✨ Choosing joy, embracing risk, and giving yourself permission to change
✨ The wisdom he wishes he had earlier in his career
✨ And the reminder we all need: “This isn’t a practice life.”
Dave’s story is real, grounded, and full of perspective — especially for anyone feeling stuck, craving change, or questioning what’s next.
If you're considering a pivot, in career, relationship, or identity, this episode is for you.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Riding the Big Wheel: Dave Worley(00:01:32) - In the Elevator With PwC's Leaders(00:02:09) - Former Consulting Pro-Volunteers Talk(00:03:48) - What's the Difference Between Working in Industry and Consulting?(00:05:01) - How to Build a Consulting Business(00:06:13) - The Importance of Sales in Consulting(00:09:35) - The Future of Consulting With AI(00:12:59) - Will Consulting Be Affected by AI?(00:15:26) - Richie's Transition Out of Consulting to the Family Ranch(00:24:22) - What Happened to Your Marriage?(00:28:28) - Why I chose to stay in my marriage(00:30:33) - Marriage and Change: What Advice Would You Give People?(00:38:33) - Living Through The Great Recession(00:38:59) - Retiring Firefighter: What Advice Do You Have for People?(00:45:33) - Dave Worley(00:49:36) - Follow Your Will: The Big Will Moment
More
What happens when you trade decades in high-stakes consulting for sunrise mornings on a Texas ranch? Today’s guest, Dave Worley, did exactly that and his story is a powerful reminder that your next chapter can be bold, unexpected, and deeply fulfilling. After more than 25 years advising C-level leaders and driving business development at firms like PwC and CrossCountry Consulting, Dave made a life-changing pivot: stepping away from corporate life to run his family’s 120-year-old West Texas ranch. In this conversation, he shares how he knew it was time to leave, what surprised him most about starting over, and the mindset shifts that helped him navigate divorce, reinvention, and retirement all at once. We talk about: ✨ The realities of consulting — the pace, the pressure, and the thrill ✨ Why every career (and every relationship) involves selling ✨ How AI is reshaping professional services ✨ What happens emotionally when you outgrow a path you’ve been on for decades ✨ Choosing joy, embracing risk, and giving yourself permission to change ✨ The wisdom he wishes he had earlier in his career ✨ And the reminder we all need: “This isn’t a practice life.” Dave’s story is real, grounded, and full of perspective — especially for anyone feeling stuck, craving change, or questioning what’s next. If you're considering a pivot, in career, relationship, or identity, this episode is for you. Chapters (00:00:00) - Riding the Big Wheel: Dave Worley(00:01:32) - In the Elevator With PwC's Leaders(00:02:09) - Former Consulting Pro-Volunteers Talk(00:03:48) - What's the Difference Between Working in Industry and Consulting?(00:05:01) - How to Build a Consulting Business(00:06:13) - The Importance of Sales in Consulting(00:09:35) - The Future of Consulting With AI(00:12:59) - Will Consulting Be Affected by AI?(00:15:26) - Richie's Transition Out of Consulting to the Family Ranch(00:24:22) - What Happened to Your Marriage?(00:28:28) - Why I chose to stay in my marriage(00:30:33) - Marriage and Change: What Advice Would You Give People?(00:38:33) - Living Through The Great Recession(00:38:59) - Retiring Firefighter: What Advice Do You Have for People?(00:45:33) - Dave Worley(00:49:36) - Follow Your Will: The Big Will Moment