Retire by Degrees

Congratulations! You’ve reached a major milestone: the chance to dial things back, enjoy more freedom, and explore life beyond the daily tasks and meetings. Semi-retirement or phased retirement is an exciting chapter, offering a unique blend of leisure and continued engagement. But before you toss your alarm out the window and declare to the world, […]

Are you aiming for a traditional retirement at 65 or another specific age with a sudden and complete stop? You’ve circled the date and have a ‘countdown’ to your last day at work. Maybe you’ve even planned what you’ll be doing for the first few months once you’re wrapped up.  But here’s a thought: what if […]

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.” […]

As I think about my phased retirement and explore new activities, one idea that keeps coming up is serving on a paid board. I’d love to leverage the experience I’ve gained over the years—especially in areas like leadership, technology, and strategy. A friend of mine does this kind of work and recently gave me a […]

It’s summertime—the season of shorts and flip-flops, long hours of daylight, and a break from the usual routines. But soon enough, school will be back in session. For college students, that means new classes and freshly printed syllabi, each one a roadmap for the next four months. Assignments, deadlines, goals—all neatly laid out. It’s funny […]

If you’ve worked with financial planners or read books about your retirement finances (books like “Die With Zero,” by Bill Perkins that I’ve referenced here before) you’ve likely heard them talk about retirement in three distinct stages: But here’s the thing: you don’t know how long your Go-Go years will last. That’s why it’s so […]

We often hear the question: What will they say about you when you’re gone? While legacy is important, perhaps the more pressing question is this: Who will you be when the meetings and emails stop? As you retire (or begin winding down from full-time work) and your calendar opens up and the calls for your […]

“Take the Risk or Lose the Chance” I saw this on someone’s T-shirt on a train in Italy last week when I finally reserved some time for a 2-week vacation to explore Europe with my wife. It’s just a simple phrase—but even on vacation there can be unexpected insights that make us think and inspire […]