The Path to Your End of Career...and Thereafter

Clear Path in Plain Sight

Carson Canyon, Sierra Nevada - 2013

When to Create Your Strategy and How to Execute the Tactics

Your future End of Career is an event about which it is natural to experience feelings of excitement as well as some concerns.

As the time comes closer, the concerns may become more prevalent. A major reason is the recognition that this is an event for which you did not learn about during college, professional school or even training beyond that. For most, it is something you begin to learn about when you think you need to.

But how do you know when the right time is early enough or perhaps too late?

As you try to answer that question, it becomes apparent that indeed, it is very difficult to determine when to begin to prepare when there is so much that is unfamiliar. It is virtually impossible to make an informed decision to begin to tackle those questions and challenges when the necessary scope and duration of preparation is unknown.

The reality is that because this is a such a personal and professional matter, with so many different facets, it is impossible to predict how much work and time it will take to prepare. You can only anticipate so much…and there will probably be more to do than you thought necessary. 

The best way to know is to engage the challenge by beginning to plan and prepare. Be flexible so that you can adjust your planning as needed.

The question remains: When to begin?

A Rule of Thumb That Rules

A common feature of your planning and preparation is that it will create a significant, additional workload that is superimposed to your existing responsibilities. This will usually occur at the same time that you may want to take more time off. This is beneficial, as it will allow you to adjust to the experience of having more discretionary time. But can you really do so?

All too often, the experience is being busier than ever. With that, there may be increasing fatigue, frustration, stress, etc. This, at the very time when you thought your experience would be the opposite.

So how do you take control of your life when so much of what you have to do to prepare is unknown? 

You do so by developing a proactive attitude and start your planning earlier that you might think.

A very good indicator that will signal you to start planning, is when you find yourself thinking about your End of Career more and more. In my experience, that is often about five years in advance of your possible end date. Interestingly, that is usually the case across professions and settings.

Are there other impediments hiding in your plain sight?

On Banishing Procrastination

There are two different types of common reactions to this topic that reflect human nature.

There are those that plan and prosper. There are those that deny and defer. 

The reality is that your End of Career is inevitable. An important question you must ask yourself is: Will you ignite proactively the process to create your vision or will you allow life to simply present you with what it may or may not have to offer?

The good news about this complex process, is that it is within your power to design it according to your needs and desires.

By doing so, you will be were able to have control over much of it. There will be times when life's menu will serve you a dish that is unexpected. However, by being prepared you will be ready to adapt accordingly.

How to Plan and Prepare?

The End of Career Transition is a multi dimensional process. A critical element of success is that  you have a clear understanding of how you want to live your life after your End of Career. 

In addition, it is also essential to prepare an analysis that allows you to determine whether or not your lifestyle plan can be supported by your financial assets. 

To achieve an optimal of End of Career experience, you must have a defined process of how and when to accomplish a variety of tasks that culminate in your actual end date.

It is very important to create a systematic, actionable approach to accomplish this.

Your Blueprints Triad

This methodology is comprised of a clearly defined set of three blueprints or plans that comprise a triad. Each of these three plans has a specific purpose and a particular sequence in which they are created and executed to achieve optimal results. They are:

The Post Career Lifestyle Plan _TM  

This is the first step on your journey of renewal and fulfillment, a major goal of a transition.

Your Post Career Lifestyle Plan _TM  serves two major purposes. One is that it provides the framework for how your will live a balanced, ideal life. The second, is to provide the basis for determining whether your new lifestyle can be supported by your financial resources.

 The Post Career Financial Plan _TM  

I refer to this second evaluation as your Post Career Financial Plan. This is different from your retirement plan that comprises your financial resources. It’s purpose is to determine whether your retirement plan assets will support your lifestyle plan. If it does, it allows you to proceed with confidence. If it does not, you can reevaluate both plans and make adjustments to one or both.

The End of Career Transition Plan _TM  

This is your blueprint that guides you as you undertake the process of ending your career and arriving at your destination: your actual end date.

It includes detailed policies and procedures that outline why, how and when you will actually initiate and end your End of Career Transition.

Please remember that hope is not a plan. It simply does not work.

How Does This Triad of Plans Benefit You? 

The creation of your End of Career triad of plans will be incredibly valuable to you. Whereas without them you may experience stress and preoccupation long before your end date, having your plans will help you design a clear path marked by tranquility and triumph.

An important benefit of that, is that you can move forward on your path confidently, with a smile on your face and a feeling of pride knowing that once again, you have succeeded on your terms.

Plan. Prepare. Prosper. _TM

PS: By the way, do you want to learn more from me about how to get the most out of your life now and begin to prepare for your End of Career Transition as well as the next great phase of your life? I would like to help you. I provide consulting and coaching services that are tailored to your specific needs. Click here to apply for a complimentary consultation.

Planned Flow

Carson Canyon, Sierra Nevada - 2013