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How to Determine Your Next ‘What’ after Retirement
May 30, 2008
Any time you are dealing with the topic of change, which is the essence of implementing an exit strategy, you must first address the typical stumbling blocks that prevent us from moving happily from one adventure to another. Basically, the underlying reason we don’t want to experience change is FEAR; fear of loss, humiliation or rejection, pain, or financial ruin. Basically: fear of failure.
It all boils down to this one powerful four-letter word, FEAR.
Determining what your fears are, will help you proceed in determining your foundational criteria for building something exciting, empowering and inspiring for you to wrap your energies and resources around outside of your business. How do you develop these foundational criteria? Ahhh Grasshopper, that is the secret everyone asks the hermit at the top of the mountain! Actually, it’s not much different than developing a fundamental business strategy. Begin by making three lists:
1. The Absolutes – the unchangeable and non-negotiable elements in your life, such as:
- Personal financial security tolerance level
- Time commitment required/desired for family
- Any physical or health restrictions
- Scope of interest: city/regional/state/country/worldwide
- What is your tolerance for “adventure” (no man-eating predators, air & water easily available, no war zones, etc.)
2. The Descriptors – what do you want to learn, share or experience?
- Freedom to explore new philosophies, cultures and languages
- Letting go of all of my “stuff” and getting in touch with brutal reality
- Get outside of my own troubles and help someone else with REAL challenges
- Meet people who judge me for what I am doing now, not what I have previously accomplished
3. The Dream – the brainstorming session.
- Have fun building a list of everything you ever dreamed, imagined or wished you could do, fix or develop. Don’t judge it; just write it down on your list. The ideas should not make you feel burdened, overwhelmed or anything like work. The more you think about it, the more excited you should feel.
- Once you have a list, begin checking off how many of the Absolutes and Descriptors it matches. You will begin to see which ideas are pure folly and which ones may have some substance. When you have narrowed it down to two or three ideas that you feel absolutely excited about, ones that match most or all of your fundamental criteria, you will be ready to begin your research to see which of these ideas are actually serious contenders.
My father taught me this exercise. He was a project manager for the Apollo and Gemini space missions. President Kennedy challenged them to get a man on the moon in nine years when the technology didn’t even exist. On his desk was a sign that simply said: “Can’t/Won’t Not Spoken Here”.
As I stated in the first of these three blogs, the “How” is not nearly as critical as the “What”. After building and running a successful company for so many years, you know how to get people, support and resources to help you build the bridge, the only question is, where do you want to build it? Remember what Geothe wrote:
" Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
Do it. Dream it. Begin it now!
Posted by Ricci M. Victorio on May 30, 2008 | Comments (0)
