Look Who’s Asking “Where Do I Go From Here?”
I usually read the AARP magazine each month and hold onto them for a while to get inspiration and information for projects. Reviewing an older issue, I found an article that I had somehow overlooked by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy entitled “Secrets Of The Presidents Retirement Club.” I was fascinated by the subtitle —”an elite brotherhood of the world’s most powerful men tackle an age old question: where do I go from here?”
After you’ve been president, where in the world would you go? We all appreciate that holding that office would open unlimited doors of opportunity. However, even though presidents have these enormous opportunities, it doesn’t mean the transition is any easier for them.
As I was reading the article, I thought about a recent story I watched on 60 Minutes. The segment was about Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world. After building Microsoft into one of the largest corporations in the world, he resigned his position as CEO about six years ago. He decided that he would spend the rest of his life giving away the vast majority of his $67 billion of personal wealth. Together, he and his wife have formed a foundation to tackle mankind’s most fundamental problems: childhood disease, clean drinking water, and world hunger.
After leaving the White House, Jimmy Carter took 6000 pages of notes he’d written while president and used them to create children’s stories, poems, and prayers. He did this while winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian efforts.
Are They Really Any Different?
The truth is that people in high places have the same anxiety and worry about their next life stage. Being renowned or having great wealth can be a tough act to follow.
Jimmy Carter and Bill Gates should be an inspiration to all of us, including those of us wondering “what in the world will I do after I retire?” As it turns out, the most powerful and wealthy people in the world are just like you and me. They have but one life to live and after tremendous success in their careers, they can still find a way to have an encore career.
Work-life balance is a challenge for all of us at every stage of our development. After leaving work, it’s important not to stop but to just slow the pace down enough so you can take a deep breath and step back. At that point, you can explore your skills, talents, and experience to see what needs to be done to make your community or world a better place. Make sure, however, that you are having fun and learning new things as you develop your new retirement career.
One of the unique distinctions in the transition from the Oval Office to private life is the camaraderie and support each president gets from his predecessors, regardless of party affiliation. Find your own camaraderie among your family and friends to keep the momentum going.
Mark Freedman, in his book The Big Shift, says that “if we act now, the new stage could well become a destination, even the new crown of life, and the individual’s flooding into it the human-capital solutions to much that ails us in this society. As we confront significant changes in areas like education, the environment, and healthcare, this windfall of talent could help carry us towards a new generation of solutions.” Our generation has pioneered so many changes in our lifetimes that it seems fitting that we continue this pattern into our retirement career and make good use of our 20 to 30 bonus years.
We Can Do It
While we regular people don’t have the opportunity or money that Jimmy Carter or Bill Gates has, we still have many options if we only open our minds and our hearts to look for them. However, you do have to know how to integrate your values, interests, knowledge, skills, and experience into a tapestry that uniquely reflects who you really are in your new retirement career.
You can write books, volunteer, and/or start volunteer organizations or nonprofits. In the previously mentioned AARP article, there is a quote from Hoover saying “the point is not to retire from work [as you define it] or you will shrivel up into a nuisance to all mankind.” Most importantly, seek to express yourself in creative ways. Remember that even presidents and the wealthy grapple with what’s next for them, just like we do.
Here’s how not to be a “nuisance”
- Seek support and camaraderie from not only your spouse and family but from your buddies who also know you well. Start your own club.
- Read as much as you can about retirement and how others make this transition.
- Be willing to risk some discomfort by trying new and different activities before you leave work to build your confidence that you can make this transition.
- Plan your retirement career 3 to 5 years before you actually retire and don’t let this transition derail you. Be prepared. Create a picture of what you want your retirement vision to look like then move forward with goals in the following areas of your life:
- Work/career — do something that gives your life purpose and meaning
- Self-care — stay healthy and fit
- Financial responsibilities – make sure you have a solid financial plan
- Fun and relaxation — enjoy fun-filled activities and leisure pursuits
- Personal growth — grow personally and intellectually by learning new things
Now go find opportunities that are right for you and make the very best of the rest of your life.
Dee
Dee Cascio
Author, speaker, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach, Retirement Lifestyle/ReCareer Coach, and Life and Work Transitions Strategies Coach.
The Life and Work Transitions Community
You’ve joined a great group — people who plan to make successful transitions in life and work. May you be inspired to use your strengths and skills to grow in this season and may each transition be your best ever.
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