Mary Bryant Shrader Discusses Solopreneur Success on The Encore Network

I recently participated in a webinar hosted by The Encore Network, which focuses on helping people over 50 start their own businesses. This Solopreneur event included panelists from all walks of life who either retired from their original careers and now are sole business owners or walked away from successful careers—before retirement age—to start their own companies.

The Encore Network

The Encore Network discovered me because one of the program coordinators is a business professor at Boston College, my Alma mater. This professor, Mary Cronin, saw an article about me in the Boston College Magazine and thought I would be a good fit for her program. I’m so glad she contacted me because I am always happy to help people over 50 who want to start their own businesses.

Sharing My Experience on the Solopreneur Panel

As a Solopreneur panelist, I was asked a variety of questions about why I started a YouTube channel, the challenges I faced in doing so, where I sought help, and what the greatest benefit of owning my own business was.

I have shared with you in the past that I have a passion for preserving traditional cooking skills by teaching others how to make a variety of foods, including bone broth, cultured dairy, ferments, sourdough, and more! So that was an easy “why” and made for a short answer. As to the challenges…Well, I could have talked about that the whole day. But is it all worth it? You bet!

Owning your own business later in life is so rewarding. It gives you a sense of purpose and helps shed that feeling that you may have reached an age where others consider you to be irrelevant. Sadly, that can happen to all of us as we age. Starting your own business is one way to feel relevant, but there are many other ways, too. We are blessed in society with so many options, from caring for grandchildren or aging parents to a plethora of volunteer opportunities!

But for those of us who start a second or even third chapter in our lives that involves starting a business, the benefits can be multi-fold. At the end of the Solopreneur webinar, the moderator asked each of us what was the best advice we had to share when it came to starting a business later in life. I shared that if you have family, think about making the business a family affair. It’s a wonderful way to share your family’s talents. You’ll leverage their strengths and bring your family closer together.

Making Business a Family Affair

In all honesty, I will share with you that nothing I do as to Mary’s Nest (and in life) would be possible without the help, love, and support of my sweet husband, Ted. He loves to help me in any and every way.

As our business has grown, we have brought in our son, Ben, to help from time to time. And one day, when the good Lord leads our son to marriage, we look forward to bringing his future wife into the family business as well. Working together for the benefit of our family is so rewarding.

Learn More About Solopreneurship

Learn more about The Encore Network and the Soloreneurship event:

• Watch a replay of the Becoming a High Impact Solopreneur webinar (September 18, 2024)
• Learn more about The Encore Network and their upcoming events
• Mary Bryant Shrader Around the Web (Podcasts, magazines, and more with me)

Note: Another panelist I met during the webinar was Traci Townsend. She is an over-50 sole entrepreneur who just started a new YouTube channel you’ll enjoy called Fitness with Traci to help women over 50 get fit and strong.

Enrich Your Life and the Lives of Others

So, if you’re 50 or over, know that you can start that business you’ve always dreamed about and share your talents and experience. You’ll enrich your life and the lives of others.

I look forward to participating in future webinars and sharing the continued adventures of being a solopreneur family business in the 21st century. This is the perfect time for those over 50 to find opportunities to share their knowledge and passion by starting their own business.

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Part of my passion for keeping traditional cooking skills alive—in addition to my online cooking school on YouTube—is writing cookbooks. My first book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook published by Penguin Random House (PRH), is full of my traditional foods recipes that show you how to create a traditional foods kitchen.

So be sure to order your copy of my bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, to start your traditional foods journey. And stay tuned for my next cookbook that will be published by PRH in 2025!

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

Kitchen Academy Videos

See all →

Baking with Ancient Grains in the Traditional Foods Kitchen

Bake with Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt—nutritious ancient grains that bring rich flavor and tradition to your favorite recipes.

Discussing the Secrets to Perfect Green Herbal Oils

Let’s talk about the popularity of flavored herbal oils.

Are You Salt Sensitive or Salt Resistant? Get the Latest Salt Intake Research

Learn how your body may react to salt intake differently from others.

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy (Optional Paid) - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook (Optional Paid) - Get a printed book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

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Shop for items used in this blog post or video

Favorite Kitchen Supplies

• Favorite Aprons
• Spice Grinder
• Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
• Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
• Vacuum Lids
• Whisk
• Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
• Cast Iron Dutch Oven
• 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
• Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
• Flour Sack Towels
• pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)

Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide

• Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
• Visit my Shopping Guide page
  Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Lehman's, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, Plan to Eat, and More!

Recommended Reading

• The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
• Nourishing Traditions