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I just finished a book about reaching the end stage of one’s career and how to prepare for life after a career. Book name is Changing Gear by Jan Hall and Jon stokes. Jan is a successful entrepreneur while Jon is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. This gives a very well balanced perspective both from science and the emotional anger. Very often, if it is written only by a person of science, it becomes very dry with scientific terms and gets very technical. However, this book gives plenty of examples of successful and career minded individuals that transition from a busy high flying career to being just a retiree with plenty of time on their hands. There are lots of life stories which sounds like real life with perhaps only the name changed. That is definitely not where i want to see myself years later when i retire. They resonates in me as mid life is one of my favorite topic and it is also one of the category of my blog.
There is a poignant story of a CEO who planned for his own succession but gradually regretted it and tried to cling on when the time comes for him to hand over the reins. The ending was a little awkward and embarrassing for the CEO when he was forced to leave eventually after he refused to let go. It all started with good intentions to find a successor so that there will be continuity for the company like all what most good companies practices. However, losing one’s sense of importance, influence or power cannot be under estimated. This is especially so for another who is of high position and so used to people listening to them or the feeling of being so wanted. Once they leave their job, that suddenly changed. This is made worst by the fact that often they are often so vested in their job that they tend to neglect the family. The bond with the family or children may not be that strong and the feeling of not being wanted is even stronger when the family also do no need them.
This is just one of the many stories dishes out by the book and they also suggested several coping strategies to put in place even before that happens. The book got the stages of life from the Hindu philosophy which sees life in four stages.
- The first from birth to up to the age of 25. This is where finding one’s identity and leaving home.
- The second, from ages 25 to 55. This stage focuses on earning a living, building a family and worldly achievement.
- The third stage, from ages 55 to 75. The period of retreat or retirement.
- The fourth final stage, from age 75 on wards. This is the time of preparing for death. Sounds morbid but that’s the reality of life.
This book focus on the third stage or life after a career. So if you are near to this stage or at this stage, this book should speak to you. I think it is always better to be prepared than finding the rug pulled from your feet all of a sudden. It may not be an easy transition from a busy schedule or achievement oriented career to a slow pace directionless existence. It can cause a lot of anxiety, sense of loss, loss of self-esteem and can easily lead to depression. Thus it is true that one should really plan for the inevitable. The inevitable can be either being pushed out of the job as a result of disruption, loss of relevance, redundancy to a properly planned succession plan. When that happens, one won’t be caught off guard but just continue to execute your well thought our “third stage life plan” or life after a career.
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