“Paths Amidst Impediments” – 2022

Haena Beach, Kauai, HI

Finding Clarity in Complexity

The time may have come when recurring thoughts about transitioning from your career have begun to surface. These ideas may range from specific to vague. After reflecting for some time, you may realize that significant time has passed without clarity on what to do next, when to act or how to proceed. Yet, the challenge remains.

You are not alone in this common experience.

At some point, a strong internal desire will emerge: to make progress, to prepare yourself for what comes next, both personally and professionally. Hopefully, it is not too late to achieve the outcome you envision.

When You Know It Is Time

Over time, you will reach certain conclusions: when to step away from your current role, what you will pursue afterward, how to manage your ongoing responsibilities and much more.

Often, those answers remain tentative, since the transition process is largely unfamiliar. The deeper you explo...

Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides) – 2009

Florida

Your Future Is Built on Today's Decisions

Stepping away from a career you have dedicated your life to is a profound milestone — one that demands deliberate preparation long before the actual moment of transition.

Early in the process, you will realize the magnitude and complexity of what lies ahead. With this realization comes an understanding that achieving a successful transition will require purposeful focus over an extended period. Naturally, you will be confronted by a triad of pivotal questions:

•  What should I do?
•  When should I take action?
•  How do I navigate this path?

 The Starting Point for Your Journey

The first step involves preparing across three essential domains.

First, it is necessary to prepare yourself personally for the exciting next stage of your life. Equally important is recognizing that your spouse or life partner, and in many ways your family, will be transitioning alongside you.

Second, you must prepar...

The Grand Teton, Mt. Owen and Teewinot Mountain – 2022

Grand Teton National Park, WY

Your Lifestyle as Art

Grand art born of great, visionary artists often arises from a spontaneous idea, an image in the mind’s eye.  The evolution of an idea that culminates in a tangible work of art, whether a painting or a photograph of a spectacular landscape, requires a blending of grand vision and the execution of exceptional technique.

Similarly, in order to create a masterpiece that will be your new lifestyle, you must imagine a clear vision of your future before you begin to create it. The path to doing so is to prepare yourself by creating and executing a realistic post career lifestyle plan that will guide you to making your new life an exuberant reality.

There are some things in life like faith, family, country, etc. that require serious respect and appreciation. Then there are others that stimulate a special sort of devotion. For me they are,  among other things, fly-fishing and landsca...

“Pondering” – 2020

Mourning Dove

Nevada

Wise Choices Support Personal Freedom

The transition from your career is approaching.

Your vision for the next phase of your life is coming into sharper focus.

You feel increasingly confident that the dreams sparked by your imagination will soon become your reality.

Your smile reflects joy of anticipation.

You take a slow, deep breath, embodying the satisfaction of what you have achieved throughout your life.

You feel a profound conviction that you have earned the life you aspire to live, and it feels incredible.

Well earned, well deserved!

As I wrote these words, they came naturally. They mirror my own experience and that of others I know.

The Emotional Terrain of Transition

This is your time to dream, plan, act, and witness the unfolding of your aspirations. Amidst the excitement, it is also the perfect moment to apply the skills and wisdom cultivated over the course of your career to this new, exciting phase of life.

You will lik...

Snake River and Teton Range – 2022

Schwabacher Landing

Grand Teton National Park, WY

Recognizing Your New Landscape

When your professional journey concludes, a new chapter begins:  one rich with opportunity to explore both your enduring needs and your long-held desires. During previous years, the need to fulfill responsibilities often dictated the rhythm of your life. Obligations at home, work, and in the community often demanded that desires be postponed, sometimes indefinitely.

This early self-discipline helped forge your professional character. Yet now, you stand at a juncture where the old norms can be re-evaluated and new priorities established.

Reassessing Desires: A Natural Evolution

The closing of your career brings about a natural evolution in your perspective. You may find yourself recalling dreams once shelved: travel, learning a new craft, or engaging in creative pursuits. You might also discover new interests arising with unexpected clarity.

Initially, it can feel ...

“Flowing with Purpose” – 2021

Gros Ventre River

Bridger–Teton National Forest, WY

Purpose and Relevance: Your Lifelong Companions

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 significant medical problems. Happily, years later, I am cured, healthy and well.

At...

“Fresh Start” – 2023

Kauai, HI

Creating Value Before You Exit: The Power of Strategic Improvements

Optimizing your business or professional practice is the first and most essential step before considering a transition. While later stages will focus on the transfer to a successor, the foundation begins with ensuring your operation functions at peak efficiency and effectiveness.

The Emotional and Strategic Aspects of the Transition

If you are contemplating stepping away from your business or practice, you likely see it as a creation you have meticulously built over the years. It has been the backbone of your career, supporting you, your family, your team, and delivering value to your patients, clients or customers.

The pride you take in your work is well-earned, and it is only natural to want the enterprise you’ve developed to continue thriving under the guidance of a capable successor.

With this in mind, you may believe your business or practice is operating efficiently. Perhaps ...

“Planned & Purposeful” – 2022

Harriman State Park, ID

Key Considerations for an Effective Transition Strategy

For years, you have built and nurtured your professional practice or business, dedicating yourself to its success. Now, as the time approaches to step away, you reflect on the journey—your achievements, the challenges overcome, and the legacy you will leave behind.

With this moment of reflection comes an essential decision: What will become of your practice or business? Should you transition it to someone else, or should you close it entirely? While the question may seem straightforward, arriving at an answer is anything but simple.

Some find this to be a natural progression, an expected phase of their professional evolution. Others find it an overwhelming challenge, filled with uncertainty and difficult choices. Why such a range of experiences? Much of it depends on the circumstances surrounding the transition and how well one has prepared for it.

Planning Ahead: The Pow...

Gibbon Falls – 2021

Yellowstone National Park, WY

 Your Path to Renewal, Growth, and Fulfillment After Your Career

One morning, as you sip your coffee, you take a moment to enjoy the tranquility. You feel a sense of satisfaction. But then, an unexpected thought enters your mind—your transition away from your career and the life that awaits beyond it. A smile forms as you imagine the possibilities; yet there’s also a flicker of uncertainty.

Mixed emotions—excitement and apprehension—surface, much like the sweetener dissolving in your cup.

You wonder if others feel the same way, how successful professionals navigate this shift, and when you should begin addressing these evolving thoughts.

One thing is clear: planning is essential.

From Success to Uncertainty: A Professional’s Journey

Meet Alex, a fictional character who embodies the experiences of accomplished professionals, whether physicians, executives, business leaders, or entrepreneurs.

Alex finds himself at a pivotal stage...

Upper Yosemite Falls – 2017

Yosemite National Park, CA

Your Career Transition is a Defining Process

Your career transition is one of the most defining experiences of your professional and personal life. While it marks the close of a distinguished career, it also signifies a new beginning—one that requires thoughtful planning and execution. Whether anticipated with excitement or uncertainty, the path forward is best approached with strategic preparation and clarity of purpose.

Understanding the Transition Process 

High-performing professionals—whether physicians, business owners, executives, or entrepreneurs—are accustomed to making complex decisions. However, transitioning from a long-standing career presents unique challenges that extend beyond daily business operations. This is a process, not an event, requiring careful attention to personal, financial, and professional transformation. The key to a smooth transition lies in having a structured methodology to guide your decision-...