Retirement: A Natural Evolution of Career Development

By Ford R. Myers
President, Career Potential, LLC

Over the past few years, our career coaching practice has been attracting a growing percentage of clients who want to talk about retirement planning – not just career planning. I have wondered why this is. Is it because people are becoming more aware, educated and savvy about the subject of retirement in general? Is it because my colleagues and I are getting older; so we are naturally drawing an older client demographic? Is it because some people simply have more options to consider, with the stock market (and some investment portfolios) reaching record highs? Or is it because I have been pondering the next phases of my own life; and “we attract what we think about?”

Retirement is simply the next stage of personal and professional development
– it is the natural evolution of career planning.

I honestly don’t know the answer, but intuitively, I suspect that it’s a combination of these and other factors. One thing I do know is that the whole conversation about retirement has shifted noticeably during the past five to 10 years. Sure, we career coaches always had occasional conversations with our clients about retirement – but it was treated almost as an “afterthought.” Now, it seems that some clients enter the career coaching relationship with retirement planning as a central concern! As a result, we have had many compelling discussions that focus on the transition from “work and career” to “what comes afterward.” For our senior-level clients, the separation between these two subjects has nearly dissolved; essentially blending into one very important conversation. They have discovered that retirement is simply the next stage of personal and professional development – it is the natural evolution of career planning. For this reason, we have expanded some of our career coaching programs to integrate the “retirement conversation” when appropriate.

Traditionally, the concept of retirement meant leaving your long-term job with a pat on the back and a gold watch, liberated to devote the rest of your years to nothing more than rest and relaxation. The assumption, of course, was that you had saved enough money to support yourself for the rest of your life – even if you did choose to travel the world or finally buy that condo on the beach. The very definition of retirement, therefore, was having enough money to stop working.

Retirement is a wonderful opportunity to experience renewal and transformation.

Now that I have engaged in so many retirement conversations with my clients, my view on the subject has broadened considerably. My definition is no longer based on the gold watch and the bank account (not that there’s anything wrong with these assets). Indeed, I have come to see retirement as a wonderful opportunity to experience renewal and transformation! Many people who are downshifting toward retirement are seeking greater meaning and purpose, not just “peace and quiet.” Instead of “falling off a cliff” into some sort of retirement abyss, we are helping clients to enthusiastically craft exciting, rewarding plans for the future!

In my coaching sessions with clients who are thinking about retirement, the dialogue doesn’t focus so much on money as it does on “life.” Of course, we do discuss their financial situation in depth – and when necessary, I refer them to a qualified financial advisor. Rather than only asking, “Do I have enough money to retire,” clients are asking a far more powerful question: “What kind of life do I want to live in this next phase of my existence?” You can imagine the rich and dynamic conversations that spring from such a question! The plans that clients make for their post-career lives are as varied as the clients themselves.

Don’t retire from your old life; retire to your new life. Don’t disengage; re-engage!

To be of greater value to my clients – and frankly, to explore my own interest in the subject – I have recently read many books and articles on retirement. I have also taken retirement assessments and attended retirement webinars. Along the way, I have distilled one key message that all the “experts” advocate: Don’t retire from your old life; retire to your new life. Never fully retire. Don’t disengage; re-engage. Pursue your real interests and true passions. Work part-time or turn a hobby into a small business. Get involved in the activities you always wanted to do but never had the time to do. Don’t abandon your relationships; deepen them. In summary, and as several authors have written, “Don’t retire; re-fire!”

The most successful retirement transitions occur when an individual has thought a lot about this and has developed a solid, specific plan and a clear vision of what his or her life will look like moving forward. The worst outcomes seem to happen when there has been no planning or forethought, and the individual simply stops working with no vision for the future.

Of course, some people will never have the opportunity to retire, due to financial or personal challenges. Others who do have the practical ability to retire may choose not to do so, opting instead to “work ’till they drop.” For example, no one in my extended family has ever retired. So on a personal level, this is a new concept for me too!

Rather than only asking, “Do I have enough money to retire,” clients are asking a far more powerful question: “What kind of life do I want to live in this next phase of my existence?”

Below, I have shared with you some of the books that I mentioned above. They have provided me with quite an education on retirement, and I am certain that they will be useful for you too. It is interesting to note that none of these books center on the financial aspect of retirement – although there are plenty of books and web sites that do just that!

The New Retirementality: Planning Your Life and Living Your Dreams – Mitch Anthony

The New Retirement: Discovering Your Dream – Richard Johnson

Retire Smart, Retire Happy: Finding Your True Path in Life – Nancy Schlossberg

Life Launch: a Passionate Guide to the Rest of Your Life – Frederick Hudson and Pamela McLean

The Complete Guide to a Creative Retirement – Rob Kelly

My Next Phase: The Personality-Based Guide to Your Best Retirement – Eric Sundstrom and Randy Burnham

Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion After 50 – Dave Corbett and Richard Higgins

The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life – Marci Alboher

Encore: Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life – Marc Freedman

The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Mid-Life – Marc Freedman

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life – Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

It’s Only Too Late if You Don’t Start Now: How to Create Your Second Life at Any Age – Barbara Sher

Your Retirement Quest: 10 Secrets for Creating and Living a Fulfilling Retirement – Alan Spector and Keith Lawrence

Many people who are downshifting toward retirement are seeking
greater meaning and purpose, not just “peace and quiet.”

It is no longer appropriate to view retirement as a one-time event; it is better seen as an evolutionary process. With today’s longer life expectancy, many of us will be in retirement for 20, 30 years or more – so it is certainly worth the time and energy to think about this “long and hard.”

Whether you are just starting to think about retirement or your retirement is imminent, I encourage you to approach the subject with a broad-based perspective and not just focus on “the money.” Plan your own retirement with all the creativity, energy and optimism that you can. Ideally, your retirement won’t be an “ending.” It can truly be a new beginning, and an exciting chance to achieve your life’s full potential.

Ideally, your retirement won’t be an “ending.” It can truly be a new
beginning, and an exciting chance to achieve your life’s full potential.