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By Sara Ying Rounsaville

In the past few days, people in encore careers have been making big news. Second acts for the greater good are gaining momentum and continuing to garner serious national media attention. There’s the patient advocate in The New York Times, the children’s chorus founder in a new Wall Street Journal series, the food bank worker in a Reuters column. Coming up are features on the PBS NewsHour and BBC World Service.

Purpose Prize winners prove that energy and determination have little to do with age. In their encore careers, these individuals make society better – driven by passion, backed by experience.

You’ve most likely encountered Prudential's Day One stories campaign, telling us we need to prepare for a seemingly endless retirement. On billboards and bus posters, in radio and television ads, Prudential says we’ll be retired for 6,000 days – or many more – after working for 12,000. The financial services company’s campaign amounts to scenario planning through the rear view mirror – bolting the new longevity (longer, healthier lives) to the old retirement lifestyle. This retrograde vision is neither sustainable, nor attainable – and it isn't desirable.

As Encore Career Handbook author Marci Alboher has been touring the country, people have been asking her lots of questions about one resource she recommends enthusiastically in her book: LinkedIn. With more than 187 million members, LinkedIn operates the world's largest professional network. It could be the key to finding your encore career, work that makes a difference in the lives of others.