Not long ago, a friend sent me a sample board profile to help me think about my own next career move. What caught my eye wasn’t the impressive title or the lengthy list of accomplishments—it was a small note tucked into this biography:
“After a long career at GE, they took 18 months to reinvent themselves.”

Eighteen months. Not two weeks. Not a “gap month.” A full year and a half dedicated to reflection, discovery, and redirection. That sentence stuck with me—not because it was radical, but because it was refreshingly realistic. Reinvention isn’t something you rush through. It’s something you live through. And giving yourself permission to pivot to anything at all is an exhilarating idea!

For those of us approaching retirement—especially through a phased path—the idea that we should already know “what’s next” can feel overwhelming. The end of a traditional career doesn’t mean you suddenly snap into your next identity, whether that’s as a board member, a consultant, an advisor, or a volunteer. It takes time to:

• Discern what truly interests you now
• Define meaningful, realistic goals
• Experiment, pivot, and gain traction

In fact, if you’re used to the intensity and pace of a demanding career, allowing yourself the space to slow down and explore can be uncomfortable. It might take a few false starts to figure out what energizes you in this new season—and that’s okay.

So while a phased retirement might start with a few consulting gigs or serving on a committee, it can also include learning to code, writing a book, or taking an improv class. Stretch more than you think you can. Your brain thrives on the unfamiliar.

Author and public servant John W. Gardner once said he aimed to grow as much in his 70s and 80s as he did from birth to 18. Think about that for a moment. Imagine applying the same energy, curiosity, and resilience you had as a child learning about the world—to your later years.

Gardner’s philosophy reminds us that reinvention isn’t just about career—it’s about personal growth, and that journey can be rich, surprising, and deeply rewarding. Even if it unfolds slowly.

A few final thoughts on reinvention:

• Treat it like a process, not a project. You’re not building a deck. You’re discovering who you want to be next.
• Give yourself permission to explore. Read widely, talk to people in very different fields, try something low-stakes to begin.
• Don’t worry if it doesn’t click right away. That GE board member didn’t figure out his next self in a weekend workshop. Neither will you.
• Keep your mind active. Whether through formal learning or new habits, stretching your brain is the most powerful act of reinvention.

Reinvention, especially during a phased retirement, is a powerful opportunity—not just to redefine what you do, but who you are and how you live. And it’s not a sprint. It’s a season.