Retirement Can Be Terrifying
"My friends are about to retire-and they're terrified," a man told me the other day. He went on to say, "One guy I know retired one day and died the next." Though death on day one of retirement is an extreme circumstance, quick declines in health are not unusual. A 2013 study showed 40% of retirees suffer from clinical depression, while 6 out of 10 report a decline in health. Much of this has to do with a loss of purpose and passion.




Mark feels bored and irrelevant
Retirement sure looks attractive in our dreams, but it can be a tough transition. It definitely was for Mark, who had a very successful career in finance at a Fortune 500 company. He dreamed of retiring and spending quality time with friends and his wife, Helen. But he soon found friendships with his former co-workers who were still working "didn't click" any more. He was no longer part of their world. His retired friends weren't nearly as available as he'd hoped, and being home every day was less than blissful. He and Helen frequently got on each others' nerves. Mark found himself feeling bored-and irrelevant.

You wouldn't think about not planning your work week
Most successful people meticulously plan their work weeks. But when it comes to retirement, may take the plunge with no plan in place. Big mistake! This is not an easy transition. Work provides structure for our days. We have a place to go in the morning and there are always too many things to do. It provides camaraderie and a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It's a jolt to the system to suddenly have all that taken away.

Finding and Channeling Your Passion
When we work with retired people, we often find their passion is very different than the one that drove their careers, while others use that same passion as a foundation, but go in another direction. Here's a
couple of examples.

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Want to discuss a retirement Plan? If you're feeling bored and unfulfilled? I invite you to have a no-obligation conversation about your situation to see if we can help. Call me at 847-673-0339 or click on the red button to send us a note.



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Turning a hobby into a business
Tom came to see us when he was ready to retire from his very successful insurance agency. He said he wanted to be active, but didn't want another very demanding job like the one that had cost him his marriage. He was engaged to a lovely woman-and he didn't want to screw it up. Unlike Mark, he had lots of people interested in getting him to help with various projects, plus a couple of job offers for sales positions.

We advised him to focus and take his time, making sure his choices were good ones. We also recommended that he NOT take the sales jobs, since they seemed likely to turn into the very long, punishing weeks he wanted to avoid. To help him find his passion, we did some brainstorming. It turned out that Tom owned a yacht, and was extremely knowledgeable about them. He was also a very engaging man and a showman who loves the limelight. Years ago, while in the military, he had undertaken a national campaign to educate people about hypothermia. His program began with landing a helicopter on high school football fields where the whole school of awestruck students were gathered.

We suggested that he become a coach for boat owners to teach them to purchase a boat that's right for them and to operate it safely. After all, it's very easy for the untrained boat owners to hurt--and even kill--themselves and others. This allowed him to do something he loves, while giving him the freedom to work as much-or as little as he chooses. It's also work that he can share with his (now) wife.

Using Professional Passion In a Different Way
Gerry worked as an engineer with Motorola, and got in on the ground floor of the development of the cell phone. He remembers when the engineers were struggling to come up with a way to keep the (then big and clunky) cell phones from breaking when dropped. He was even told he was crazy for suggesting that people might went to send text messages instead of talking on the phone. It was an exciting ride, to say the least. He's still passionate about his engineering work, but now, his current focus is on sharing his knowledge and getting others excited about this kind of work. He is starting to give talks to school groups about cell phones as a fascinating and practical application of the Science, Technology, Education, Math (STEM) curriculum.

Recapturing Lost Dreams
Dave had wanted to be an actor when he was in high school, but was talked into doing something more practical. After retiring, he's having a ball acting in community theater and he's collaborating with a couple of professional actors who are organizing a Friday night improv class to give high school kids a fun alternative activity to driving around, drinking, and getting into trouble.

Many More Options 
There are so many organizations and people who would love to have some of your time, your skills, your conversation, and your love. For many people, finding the right volunteer job and being there for friends and family is the key to a retirement well lived.

The Sky Is The Limit
For those who are ambitious, the sky is the limit. Many people have done their best work in their golden years. The famous artist, Grandma Moses, didn't start painting until age 78. Colonel Sanders started the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise AFTER he retired. Even physically, retirement can be a vibrant time for many people. Consider this: a recent Boston Marathon featured 596 runners age 65 and older; 47 were over 75. The oldest was 83 years old!

No Plan for Your Retirement?  Let's talk.  Call us about our 2-hour Retirement Planning Meeting. Just like we do with career clients, we'll develop step-by-step plan for you to thrive in your retirement. For more info, send us a note with your phone number.