How to Create Your Post Career Lifestyle Plan

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One fine morning with coffee in hand, you still savor that last sip of your custom brew.  You feel peaceful. Then a fleeting thought stirs up an awareness that you are thinking more and more about your future end of career and your new life. You smile and feel warmer inside…and then you feel a twinge of angst.

These are mixed emotions: joy and apprehension. They swirl around your mind stirred up much like the sweetener you blended into your coffee.

You wonder whether this is a common experience, how successful people deal with it and perhaps when you should begin to resolve this emerging dilemma.

You sense that you must do something.

A Fictional Character that Reflects a Real Person

The following is the gist of the common story of Alex, a fictional character like other accomplished individuals from all walks of life that I am familiar with.

Alex is at that time of his (or her) career when he sees his end of career within an imaginable horizon and it is becoming increasingly “visible.”

He has had a successful  career. The discipline of creating visions and actionable plans to bring to fruition at work is quite natural to him. He has trained himself to do this over and over again during his career. He is confident at that task because he has prepared himself in that role. 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.

It would not surprise me at all that you may have already experienced similar thoughts and feelings. Or that you probably will someday, perhaps sooner than you might think. I certainly did when I experienced my end of career Transition.

The realization, the experience is real. It is very human and common. You know that you and your spouse have work to do. You take comfort in knowing that both of you have considerable skills that you have trained to develop over many years. You also have the benefit of experience that will serve you well. And at this time of your life, you have probably entered the age of wisdom, which will help guide you as you transform the unknown into the comfortably familiar.

How to Begin?

The key principle to recognize, believe in and apply is this:

Your future is yours to create. It is not guaranteed that you will experience it as you wish. It is certain, however, that you will not experience it as you hope if you do not prepare a plan. A roadmap that you can believe and execute that you may rejoice in the results.

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.

Next, consider that a fulfilling lifestyle is characterized by providing for your needs as well as your desires.

What is the difference?

As you reflect on those professional activities that fulfilled you, consider that your need for that fulfillment will probably continue to exist after your end of career. It is a deep, profound feeling that you will likely want to continue to experience. In a real sense, it is necessary to find ways to continue to experience it.

Desires are also important, but are not essential like needs are.  Often, these are activities or hobbies that you may not have been able to experience as much due to time constraints. These are not only enjoyable but they provide a significant element of a holistic lifestyle.

What to Do?

Once you have considered these essential principles, your next step is to conceive and create your personal Post Career Lifestyle Plan _TM . This is the first step on your journey of renewal and fulfillment.

Your Post Career Lifestyle Plan _TM  serves several purposes. One is that it provides the framework for how to live your ideal life. Another is to determine whether your new lifestyle can be supported by your financial resources. 

This lifestyle plan is best created prior to your Post Career Financial Plan.

This process will confirm that you have the means to support your desired lifestyle or whether you need to adjust one or both.

Now is time to get practical and specific…as much as possible. Get back to primary school days and get:

• 8 1/2” x 11” or larger paper (a 12” x 18” artist’s sketch pad is ideal)
• A supply of pencils and sharpener
• A good eraser
• Your favorite “thinking” music
• Sacred time

…and anticipate changes

Begin by writing down the answers to the personal questions above.  I recommend that you and your spouse both address these questions individually and then discuss them together.  Each of you will individually imagine new questions that you can share.

These are some practical ones that will help you begin thinking about your future:

• What is the date certain that I will complete my end of career (EOC) plan?
• What is the ideal projected date for my EOC?
• What will I do? Will I stop working completely or work part-time?
• If I work part-time, is it for financial reasons, to satisfy my needs for fulfillment of purpose or both?
• Are there other ways to satisfy financial needs or to feel fulfilled?
• Do I have a need, desire or opportunity to collaborate on a new venture?
• Are there children with special needs?
• Are there parents with special needs?
• Where do I wish to live? One or more places? Own or rent?
• How accessible is the means to travel?
• How accessible is medical care? Routine care? Acute care? Long term care?
• What type type of weather do I prefer?  Seasonal?
• What about state residency status? State income taxes?
• What should I do about my professional license?

Keep asking, searching and answering!

This process is often both a joyful experience as well as a challenging one. I congratulate you for taking the first steps to achieving renewal and fulfillment in the next phase of your life!

PS: Do you want to learn more from me about how to create and experience a fulfilling End of Career Transition? To help you, I provide consulting services tailored to your specific needs. Click here to apply for a complimentary strategy session.

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© Enrique Fernandez, M. D.