Time to reconnect

Again, it's been a while since I wrote anything here.  I've moved into a different phase of my life, the Autumn or Third Act.  It's been an interesting time as I watch inwardly and externally as how others perceive me as well as how I view myself.  The goals I've set are mine, I've no one to answer to, I have no-one to push me, and no one to blame if I don't make it.  On the plus side, if I want to take the day off and enjoy the sun, I can.  I can sleep in and work late - I love it!

I'm working on projects that interest me, some for money, some for my soul - life is good.  Was it easy to take a step away into the uncertainty of a home business? not really,  was it financially risky?  oh yeah.  Was it right for me and my physical and mental health? Oh YES!    And that was why it was important for me to step away from a position I had grown out of, and that was slowly eating at my soul.  

When I was younger, building a career, looking at what I wanted to do, it was easy to move from place to place, job to job.  Now, 30 years later it's more difficult and as I wonder why, I realize it's because I think differently.  I am more cautious.  Will I have sufficient money for retirement, what does retirement look like for me? What if I want to move how will I find a doctor/a dentist?  What about friends, I know so many people where I currently live, will I be able to meet others, will I be lonely?  What happens if this new phase/career doesn't work out?  For a while these worries plagued me until I realized that they were just voices in my head (the monkey on my back), I have the power to turn them off if I so wish.  And so, I've done just that, they come to visit, however I'm not inclined to let them take up residence - I'm growing, learning, thriving and enjoying where I'm at - today.  

So what are you doing or looking forward to in this Third Act of your life?  The Financial Post recently reported that 53% of men aged 65 were working in some form in 2015, and at 70 the number was nearly three in ten.  For women, during the same period approx. 39% worked at age 65, and the number at 70 doubled from twenty years previously.  The article goes on to comment on current prevalent thought that seniors only draw on the system, while in reality there are many people in this age bracket who want to or, due to circumstances, need to continue to contribute to society in some way, through working, mentoring or volunteering.  

My belief is that we all have something to offer society and that something changes and evolves.  I have begun to look at how succession planning in organizations and the transition of older workers intersect and I'm asking the question:  how are organizations stemming the huge flow of organizational intelligence leaving through retirement?  What would happen if we and organizations changed the way we think of retirement, and think instead of transition, whereby our mature workers mentor, demonstrate leadership skills and/or take on special projects that support both the organization they work for, and their own needs as they transition into a new life? 

What are your thoughts on this topic?  Does this idea resonate for you?  If you're thinking of your own transition and would like to explore what that might look like, contact me for a free initial 60 minute interview


Reference: http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/retirement/older-canadians-forgoing-retirement-working-through-golden-years-census-2