Figuring out my next role will be a journey. I’ve decided I want to focus on vulnerable and marginalized people in our society and the things I think are interesting are things that resonate with that theme. I am interested in organizations that are providing leadership in issues that concern the poor, issues like food security, affordable housing, access to education….. all things that are a long way from the world I have spent the past 36 years in. So there are a lot of times I find myself “out standing in my field”. Literally, alone, and standing in the middle of nowhere, disconnected from what I’ve known and not connected to anything new yet. It is humbling to say the least. It was not that long ago that I was the guy sought out for my expertise, respected by my peers (in my mind anyway), and the guy that contractors looked to for direction. Now I’m the new guy in pretty well every context I’m in and having to start at ground level. I am, after all, learning about a whole new sector.
So, I soldier on. My process has been to reach out to people that appear to be doing retirement well and who are engaged in something I think might be interesting. That process has resulted in a number of great conversations and connections. It is also opening up a wide world of unscripted opportunity that can be bewildering. And, since I don’t have the confines of my job to keep me between the rails, I often find myself reacting to things, a bit like a pinball. That is personal management that I just need to re-learn.
I am convinced that networking is going to be my best way forward and I take some comfort in the fact that I’m not alone. There are a lot of us who have reached retirement with a few good miles left. Hey, maybe there’s an opportunity there………