Flowing Naturally

Madison River, Montana - 2004

Summary: 

• This is the familiar story of Alex, a fictional character like many accomplished individuals from all walks of life. Alex is at that time of his (or her) career when he can see his end of career on the horizon.
• He has had a successful career. The discipline of creating visions, actionable plans executing them is familiar to him. He has done it repeatedly during his career. But a powerful insight in a moment of clarity revealed to him the source of his angst. It is that he is about to enter an unknown phase of his life…that this is all new and he is not prepared. So how do you go about creating your Post Career Lifestyle Plan _TM?
• First, it will serve you well too pause and reflect. Clearly describe your character and your life’s purpose. State the endeavors, activities that fulfilled your purpose. Think about the things that are fun and you enjoy doing. Then consider that a fulfilling lifestyle...

South Fork, Madison River, Montana - 2004

The Reciprocity of Service and Satisfaction

Summary:

• Our expressions of heartfelt gratitude creates joy for those who have given of themselves for our benefit. It also provides satisfaction to ourselves.
• As we plan our End of Career Transition _TM , there is yet another great opportunity to experience personal fulfillment from actively expressing gratitude in the service of others.
• It is common for individuals to seek an answer to the question: "What am I going to do after I “retire.” 
• A common approach is to think primarily about those long deferred activities that fulfill their desire to have fun. But by focusing narrowly on them the result is often feeling a lack of fulfillment. There is a reason for it
• There is often insufficient attention given to fulfilling their purpose in life. This is a need, a necessity that is deeply ingrained within us. 
• Your career has ended, but it does that mean that your purpose in life...

Stubborn Stability Amidst Roaring Change - Merced River

Yosemite National Park, 2004

Your Transition Is a Stimulus for Personal Development and Fulfillment

Summary:

There are two words that are sometimes used interchangeably when discussing the End of Career as though they have the same meaning: change and transition. However, these two words have different meanings and what they describe have distinctly different purposes.

Lessons Learned in My Journey

My personal experience with change and transition illustrates this point. Years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer and then developed other medical problems. Together they created a change that ended my Plastic Surgery career and triggered my End of Career Transition. Thankfully, years later I am cured, renewed and fulfilled in my new career. 

My Transition did not occur spontaneously. It was the result of sustained, focused and deliberate effort over a period of time.  That effort was directed at a particular...

Tranquil Vista - Idaho, 2004

The Personal Impact of Perceiving Your End of Career as “Retirement" or Transition

Summary:

There are many individuals for whom their end of career is an event they look forward to. For many, however, that is not the case. 

My Experience

I have witnessed both attitudes, as well as a blend of both, in the course of consulting and coaching other professionals.

I have learned from them, as well as my own successful Transition.

The Human Experience

The End of Career Transition, that many refer to as “retirement,” is a process that can be shrouded in anxiety as it looms ahead. Here are significant reasons why:

• Highly accomplished individuals from virtually all walks of life have a strong tendency to describe themselves by their vocation or profession. 
• Individuals often do not clearly distinguish the difference between their internal identity and professional, public persona. 
• Extreme focus on career to the detriment of...

Sedona Sentinels - Arizona, 2010

 The Relationship Between Feeling Relevant and Your Purpose in Life.

The personal feeling of relevance is closely intertwined with the actualization of your potential and more specifically, the fulfillment of your purpose in life.

Perhaps, it is most commonly thought of as a sense of pride in oneself, in part as a result of a lifetime of accomplishments, both personal and professional. This is particularly the case when such accomplishments were attained in the service of others.

The need to feel relevant is an integral element of the human experience. It is a desire that knows no boundaries: age, sex, race, language, geography, occupation or vocation.

It is widely experienced and yet it is ultimately quite personal.

The Companions on My Journey: Purpose and Relevance

My career as a Plastic Surgeon unexpectedly came to an end due to colon cancer and other medical problems. Happily, some years later, I am now cured, healthy and well.

At that time...

Exuberant Transition - Nevada, 2017

Create Certain, Sequential Steps on Your Path

The end of your career.  For you it may be near at hand; for others it may be beyond their visible horizon. For virtually all of us, it is something that we think about.

Early in our careers, we tend to think about it in vague terms that become more specific as the years go by.

Later, when our horizon becomes more clear, two things happen:

• Our dreams about how we will live our lives become uplifted by increasing excitement.
• Then, as time wears on, more and more questions surface. They are typically represented by “W" questions: when and how, among others.

As the dreams become more clear and questions about how to achieve them increase, we realize that there is really a lot to this “retirement” thing.  

It becomes very evident that planning in a timely manner is essential to create reality from our dreams.

My story…

When my time was approaching, I became very aware...

Enlightened Visions - Florida; 2010

How to Take Solid Steps Along Your Path

The end of our careers is one of the most significant events of our lifetime that marks the beginning of the next phase of our lives.

Whether you are looking forward to it or not, the process of creating plans and executing them is marked with challenges and preoccupations.

It’s all worth it, as you envision and create realities that are the core of the new phase of your life.

Challenges and Opportunities

My personal experience, as well as guiding others as a consultant/coach, has reaffirmed certain challenges that must be recognized and managed effectively in a logical, sequential manner. This goes a long way to banish the stress of the unknown and help make the process a more positive experience.

So, what are these challenges and related questions?

First Things Should Not Always Be First

The first thing that most individuals naturally think about is their projected end date.

Then, there follows the...

Sunset or Sunrise? - Florida Splendor, 2008

© Enrique Fernandez, M. D.

How the Unnatural Origin of Words Render Them Meaningless

The purpose of language is to communicate ideas effectively. The use of words best serves that goal when their meaning accurately describes reality. Throughout millennia, mankind has strived to deal with the successes and failures of communication.

One example of the inexact use of words is the term “retirement.”

My Encounter With “Retirement”

For many years I used that term as commonly used in the United States. That is, until the time came that I faced the unexpected end of my career as a Plastic Surgeon.

The diagnosis of cancer, its treatment and aftermath had a way of broadening my perspective about life. This was a vivid example. The good news, is that am cured, healthy and well!

Questions as Teachers

Questions and answers have a way of broadening one’s perspective. Questions like Why and What?

You ask yourself...

Transition Details - Sierra Nevada, 2017

There May Be Obstacles That Are Not Financial

There are several, major matters that are important to consider as you think about and plan your  End of Career Transition _{TM  .}

One is whether or not you are financially prepared.

There can be many reasons for not being financially prepared. Sometimes, it is for reasons beyond your control. This is a clear barrier to supporting the lifestyle you dream of. 

Two common, practical solutions are adjusting your financial, lifestyle plans, or perhaps both.

When it becomes evident that you are not financially ready, your attention can be very focused on solving that particular problem.

Whether finances may or may not be a concern for you, there are other matters that are important to think about and work through.

In the course of consulting and coaching professionals, I find that the impediment to taking action to plan and end their career is often not due to a lack of financial...

Orca Whales Cruising in Tandem, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska; 2012.

Their Realization Throughout Your Life: Key Elements  to Achieve Personal Fulfillment

It is the case that at times in life, it may be necessary to forgo satisfying a desire to enable the commitment of time, effort and perhaps financial resources to accomplish an essential need.

 This is a hallmark primarily of those earlier years when life’s responsibilities required such choices. Those choices often meant that wants or desires that were considered non-essential were put off. Perhaps they were never fulfilled and hopefully, simply deferred and remembered in the well of your memory.

I know that fulfilling those myriad responsibilities cheerfully, whether at home, work or community, springs forth from the nature of your character. Indeed, your cumulative experience and satisfaction derived from meeting your responsibilities further strengthens and develops  your character. So much so, that...