Braking Barriers: Overcoming Obstacles to Transition from Your Career

The Teton Range – 2010

Grand Teton National Park, WY

 Sometimes the Obstacles Are Not Financial

Professionals as well as business leaders commonly spend their careers mastering their craft, making critical decisions, and leading their enterprises successfully. Yet, when it comes to stepping away from their daily role, they may find themselves at an unfamiliar impasse. The concept of "retirement" seems foreign—an ending rather than a transition. The latter is a more accurate term that describes what it is: a process that has the explicit purpose of you experiencing fulfillment in the next great phase of your life.

While some embrace this change with eagerness, others find themselves hesitant, burdened by lingering impediments. These varied obstacles may be professional, psychological, financial, business-related as well as others. They can stall even the most well-planned transitions. By recognizing and addressing these challenges, you can move beyond reluctance and embrace your anticipated post career life with confidence.

Psychological Barriers: The Identity Crisis

It is common in our culture for individuals to experience a morphing of their leadership role, their title, with how they describe who they are. It can define daily life, social interactions, and personal worth. For some, transitioning from their valued role may feel like they will lose the object of their of purpose, leaving many questioning, "Who will I be without my profession?” 

The Triad Within You

To answer this question, consider the contributions of Dr.Carl Jung on this topic. He described your internal identity, which is defined by your character, how you describe yourself. This is in contrast from your external identity, how others see you. There is yet another element to consider: your persona. This is the role(s) whereby you express yourself legitimately within your sphere of influence, e.g., husband, father, professional, executive, little-league coach, etc.

It’s common for individuals from all walks to life to describe themselves by their title or role, what is actually their principal persona. Name a profession and it will easily serve as an example. This perception may be beneficial during our careers as it’s integral to a sense of confidence that’s essential for accomplishing great things…sometimes seemingly easily. However, this perception can be a detriment that can arise and cloud your thoughts as early as when you begin to visualize that the end of your career is in the foreseeable future. You may have had such a perspective throughout your career and now you realize it’s about to come to an end. Consequently, you may find yourself asking yourself: Who will I be? It’s a question that is more often asked of oneself quietly than is openly expressed.

So how can you address it successfully?

The key is to develop the clarity that comes from distinguishing your internal identity from your principal persona. You are who you are, which is described by your values, your character. When you career comes to an end, your character, the source of your purpose in life will endure. You will still be you. You can determine how to express yourself in a variety of ways (personas) as you will have the freedom to do so. In so doing, you will be able to continue to fulfill your purpose in life in different ways and balance it with a healthy dose of fun.  Well earned, well deserved!

Financial Considerations: The Fear of Uncertainty

While financial security may seem like a straightforward numbers matter, the emotional connection to financial stability often complicates decisions. Even those who have diligently planned successfully for retirement may experience anxiety over long-term security.

Some common financial concerns include:

• Uncertainty about passive income sources
• Concerns over unforeseen healthcare costs
• Fear of outliving financial resources

To address these concerns, consult with a financial advisor who understands your needs. It’s critical to have a desired lifestyle plan, complete with a budget so that he can determine whether or not your current assets will support those plans. If they do, you proceed with confidence. If they do not, you can adjust your lifestyle plans and/or the nature and timing of your transition from work.

Practical Impediments: The Absence of a Clear Exit Strategy

For some, the difficulty isn’t just emotional or financial—it’s logistical. A lack of a well-structured exit strategy can result in hesitation, postponed decisions and failure to take advantage of opportunities that result in inevitably delays. Questions such as when to start  planning, what to do and in what order will figure prominently.

Key steps for a smooth transition include proactive planning. Establish clear goals and dates to create and begin to implement your essential plans. This includes preparing lifestyle plan, a financial plan and finally an end of career plan that focuses on your enterprise.

The Myth of “Retirement” and Embracing Your Future 

“Retirement,” as traditionally defined, doesn’t resonate with many of you. The idea of stopping work often feels unnatural. This is understandable, as this term implies an event characterized by the closing of a door. A more accurate term that I prefer is “transition,” which describes a dynamic process that leads to renewal and fulfillment.  

Reframing the transition from your career as an evolution, rather than a conclusion, opens the door to opportunities to continue to fulfill your purpose in life and have some well-earned fun.

Removing the Roadblocks to a Rewarding Future

The transition from life's work does not have to be a struggle filled with hesitation and uncertainty. By identifying and addressing these significant impediments—questions about identity, relevance, financial concerns, emotional ties, and logistical hurdles—you can create your path to a purposeful and fulfilling great phase of your life…again.

Plan. Prepare. Prosper. _TM

PS: Would you like to learn more about how to transition successfully from your career? I provide services to physicians, non-medical professionals, corporate executives, businessmen and entrepreneurs that are tailored to their specific needs. Click here to request an introductory conversation.

If you would like to learn about another way that I can guide you, check out this brief video that describes my unique online course: 

The Practice Transition Course for Physicians. _TM    

“Purposeful Path” – 2006

USA