Career Transitions: When You Retire the Job But Not the Identity

Once a high achiever, it's not an identity we shed lightly- even after a career transition.

I was at an event last week, talking with a group nearing retirement. One woman had just retired at the top of her game, and admitted her identity was completely wrapped up in professional mastery.

Her question to the group: "What else can I master? Should I double down on racquet sports?"

Like a lot of people approaching retirement, she's fit, sharp, and not ready for a "No-Go" stage of life.

I could sense the panic, the lostness, the hint of regret in her eyes, and it pulled me straight into coaching mode.

First, I told her she was brave.

Her shoulders eased. Her breath came out lighter. It would've been easier to just keep working, but she chose a different chapter instead. If I'd stayed in coach mode, I would've pointed her toward two resources:

📚 Transitions by William Bridges: a framework for navigating career shifts and major life disruptions, honoring the messy in between rather than rushing past it.

🌍 Modern Elder Academy: workshops and programs for navigating midlife and thriving in the second half of life.

But it was a summer party, people were getting loose, so I shelved the coaching hat, and her friends toasted each other with strong coffee martinis instead.