How to Decide When to End Your Career

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 recognition that there are a lot of unknowns. There are personal questions that must be answered as well as practice or business matters that are your responsibility to deal with.

These challenges make it very difficult to set a projected end date…for the time being.

My focus here is on the methodology to determine that date and execute your plans.

These methodologies are the well grounded stones on your path to create your new lifestyle.

If Not First, Then When?

It is very difficult to end one's career without having a clear vision and plan of what is to follow.

In fact, the absence of such a vision and plan can be a serious impediment to ending your career.

It has been said that “The time you want the map… is before you enter the woods."

I describe a constellation of plans that are designed to be created and executed in a certain sequence in order to best guide you to success in this matter.

The first of these is your Post Career Holistic Lifestyle Plan. 

This is about what to do or not do.  It is also about where, how you want to live your life…and much more.

From a personal perspective, there are matters related to the core of Who you are as a person, your character… and how this relates specifically to your End of Career Transition. The focus is on your needs as well as your desires in the future. 

As you consider this topic, reflect upon your character and your life’s purpose. Think about the activities that fulfilled your purpose.

As you reflect on those professional activities that fulfilled you, consider that it is a profound, positive feeling that you will likely want to continue to experience. Those who experience utmost success recognize this and find various 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 as you would have liked. These are not only enjoyable but they provide a significant element of a holistic lifestyle. They warrant your attention and their own list.

The Post Career Holistic Lifestyle Plan is best created prior to your Post Career Financial Plan. 

This plan is different from your retirement plan. It is designed to determine whether your financial resources support your Post Career Holistic Lifestyle Plan.

If it does support it, you will have increased confidence to proceed. If it does not, you can make adjustments to your financial, lifestyle plans or both.

Either scenario will have a direct impact on your ability to more confidently determine your projected end date.

The Third Element of the Triad

Once these plans are created, it is time to create your End of Career Transition Plan.

This is the third guiding star of the constellation. It is the actual roadmap to bring your career to a close. It encompasses personal, professional, business considerations and much, much more.

And so…

The end of your career is a major life event for which it is prudent and possible to properly prepare. 

Deliberate, focused planning and execution will usher your new lifestyle as you have dreamt it to be.

Plan. Prepare. Prosper. _TM 

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.

Setting Sun Prepares for Sunrise - Gulf of Mexico, FL -  2008

© Enrique Fernandez, M. D.