The Evolution of Life: Embracing the Next Stage of Your Journey

The Evolution of Life: Embracing the Next Stage of Your Journey

“Two hours ago I could have said five words and been quoted in 15 minutes in every capital of the world. Now, I could talk for two hours, and nobody would give a dam.”

-US President Harry Truman, shortly after leaving office.

In my work, I hear the same concern time and again, “I don’t know what’s next for me. I can’t think of anything that will fulfill me in the same way my career has.” For decades, I've worked with industry leaders who share a common trait: a desire to know their 'What's Next.' They realize their current roles won't last forever but often lack clarity on what will bring them the same level of fulfillment, purpose, and challenge. They don’t feel they have established their Legacy in a fully realized state yet, but they want to leave the world a better place. They want to contribute to the world in a way that has an enduring impact that reflects their values, passions, and achievements. They want a Purpose in Life.

These leaders feel grateful and blessed for their relative stability in terms of finances, health care, and housing. But they want more and they hope their loved ones will want more. The issue for them is how to build a unified Family Legacy that represents all the family members and contributes to the world for multiple generations to come. Like most complex issues, it’s much easier to ignore it. By ignoring it, they are compromising their potential to have endless personal growth for themselves and their loved ones and make a monumental mark on the world.

What most people do instead is live with the internal turmoil retirement causes - when, how, and what’s next at retirement. Because they don’t have a clear answer, they avoid the question until retirement age looms closely, then handle the situation in one of two ways: they never stop working or they make their hobby their work.

Here’s what I mean, in one survey,

I asked 100 High Net Worth, Very High Net Worth, and Ultra High Net Worth individuals about their retirement plans. These are all highly respected leaders in many fields, with estate, wealth, and philanthropy plans. A whopping 93% of these distinguished authorities planned to spend retirement either “continuing to work” or participating more in their hobby. Of those respondents, 82% admitted that they wanted a Family Legacy. The issue is that continuing to work or making your hobby your new career will not get you a Family Legacy.

The inclination to never stop working comes out of fear that their decades-long purpose in life, their career, is what they’ve been known for. They believe that if they retire, they lose their significance, reputation, recognition as a leader and personal brand. Or, when they know they want to retire, but don’t know what to do next, they make a hobby their life. They golf, boat, volunteer, travel, or do another favorite pastime that becomes their social and personal, all-encompassing outlet for living the rest of their lives.

None of those are bad things, but they aren’t a Purpose in Life that will fulfill a highly driven and purposeful leader for the rest of life. Legacy Planning will help you discover your Purpose, Your What's Next. Creating a Family Legacy Plan will give your Legacy longevity and help your loved ones find their Purpose in Life, early in life.

What is your What’s Next? What impact will you provide the world now before you retire, and upon retirement?