The Big Shift in Perception: Redefine, Restore, Reset, and Rise After Corporate Life

Redefining Retirement to Align with Your Executive Encore 

Welcome to your Executive Encore, a bold new chapter where your wisdom, experience, and passion take center stage. Your corporate career may be behind you, or perhaps your professional identity is shifting from the structure of the boardroom to the excitement of uncharted territory. Your story isn’t ending or sliding into the sunset. It might just be shifting into turbo mode. Buckle up!

Retirement isn’t a new concept, and it’s no longer just for those leaving corporate jobs. Over the past two decades of coaching executives to prepare for the lifestyle transition after corporate, I have observed a significant shift in our perspective on retirement, with people finding new ways to redefine it. Terms like "refirement," "new chapter," or "second act" (or even "third act") have surfaced, but none of them seem to stick like the familiar yet dreaded cliché term "retirement."

Here is a list of interesting and amusing renditions that could be great taglines:

• Calling it a day

• Hanging up one's boots

• Going off the shelf (or grid)

• Clocking out - for good

• Out of office - permanently

• Boardroom to backyard

• Trading the briefcase for leisure

• Deadlines to lifelines

Then there are specific contexts:

• Early retirement, defined as stepping away from work before a traditionally established age, overlooks the rationale behind that age and fails to account for how life and work have evolved since 1935.

• Voluntary retirement

• Mandatory retirement refers to retiring due to age or policy. Reference: Retirement Through the Ages: A History of Pensions and Policies

• "The Golden Years" is an annoyingly overused expression referring to the period of retirement. You might hear some people joke, "Who called these the golden years?"

• The shift from a highly compensated career to a "dream job".

Whatever term works for you in the context that fits, it isn't about accepting that this is the end. It’s about taking everything you’ve learned about yourself, your values, and your dreams, to build a life that makes you say, “Yes, I’m all in. This is what I’m here for!”

"I never had the sense that there was an end: that there was a retirement or that there was a jackpot." ~ Leonard Cohen

Shifting Your Perspective

It’s not about jumping on the bandwagon or following the crowd either. An early retirement package or a set retirement date doesn’t mean you have to step away from life or work completely. Instead of seeing this phase as the end or a loss of identity, think of it as a fresh start that offers a chance to redefine who you are and what your Executive Encore looks like for you!

Restoring to Set Your Foundation

In the early days, it’s okay to pause and catch your breath, to step off the relentless treadmill and the adrenaline-fueled state of the 9-to-5, and allow yourself the space to adjust and heal. Think of it as anchoring your ship in calm waters after navigating stormy seas. Taking time to focus on self-care isn’t just acceptable, it is essential. This is your time to restore. It’s a chance to reconnect with yourself and rediscover your direction. Remember that rest isn’t a detour, it’s an integral part of your journey.

Taking time to focus on simple habits in the following pillars can help you feel good about yourself (maintain healthy self-regard) and stay on track with both your daily life and long-term goals (pursue self-actualization):

Purpose: What’s meaningful to you now? Today? What activities will give you purpose today and into the future?

Relationships: Build connections that uplift and inspire you. This is a good time to reevaluate your network. Do you need to make changes to meet your current needs, given your current situation? It's time for a reality check.

Aila's Personal Story. Aila loves playing tennis with her friends and always looks forward to their matches. Her work schedule restricted her availability to weeknights and weekends, and as her energy allowed. Now Aila looks forward to playing during the day. REALITY CHECK: To Aila's dismay, her friends aren’t necessarily available during the day. Some are still living the 9-to-5 grind, while others have embraced new and different adventures, including some who packed their bags and never looked back. It didn’t take long for Aila to realize that this stage of life looks a little different for everyone. It's time to make some new friends.

Legacy: You’ve got time ahead of you and a personal portfolio of talent to think differently about making an impact in the world. How can you leave it just a little better than you found it? Volunteering is not the only option. For many people, it’s about standing up for causes they care about, helping family or the community in meaningful ways, or even getting their own house in order by taking the time to make small, eco-friendly changes that add up over time.

Reset for Remastering Your Life and Work in 4 Steps

This phase is not about erasing your past either. It's about remastering it. Your years in the corporate world have equipped you with a strong foundation to live life to the fullest: knowledge, experience, and a network. Now it’s time to RESET and integrate all of that with new pursuits to serve you.

Step 1: Reflect on Your Passions and Values: During your reset, begin by spending time uncovering what truly excites you. Explore passions old and new. Take a moment to sit and reevaluate your values. Chances are, your values have shifted over time, quietly evolving without your awareness or recognition. Create a list of activities or causes that align with your passions and values, which bring you joy and a sense of fulfillment. It's also important to list what activities drain you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Align your daily life with what you want to do and what is best for you. Curb the distractions of shiny objects and the obligatory "have-to" list. The RAISIC self-assessment can help you explore what activities align with your basic interest type.

Step 2: Inventory Your Strengths: The skills you’ve developed over a lifetime remain valuable. Leadership, negotiation, and mentoring can easily be applied to new roles, interests, and activities. Create a list of your strengths and explore how to utilize your strengths in various settings, such as consultancy, entrepreneurship, volunteering, or ultimately serving your passions. For once in your life, you can fully utilize your strengths for your benefit rather than relying on an organization to pick over your strengths for its benefit.

Step 3: Experiment Boldly: Give yourself grace and acknowledge that this is a phase of experimentation. Embrace the thrill of trying something new. Dive in with intention, staying true to your passions, values, and strengths. Join that photography class, volunteer for that non-profit, or explore mentoring opportunities. Every step brings clarity, even if it’s not the final destination. But remember to check in along the way and make sure you’re not getting distracted by shiny objects. Your energy and financial resources are valuable and deserve to be respected. Don't burn out.

Step 4: Dream Big, Start Small, Monitor Your Pace: The idea of remastering life and work might seem overwhelming. It's not an entire reinvention of self, life, and work. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Break it down into manageable steps, start small, and set your own pace. The momentum will build over time.

Rise to Who You Want to Be

A New Identity: Creating a new identity is one of the most exciting and empowering parts of this journey. It’s your chance to bridge the gap between who you’ve been and who you’re ready to become. The possibilities are limitless. This is your moment to RISE to who you want to become!

Trust Yourself: Believe in your power to shape a future that matters. Trust your vision, and start taking bold, intentional steps to bring it to life. Develop self-trust with each step you take and expand your self-compassion along the way.

Realize Your Potential. Explore Opportunities That Fit You: Whether or not you pursue an extension of your professional life, seek out opportunities that let you share your expertise while diving into new passions. These choices honour your legacy, provide a sense of purpose, and enable you to realize your potential - this is self-actualization and fulfillment.

Cultivate Your Community: Remember, women thrive through connection! Surround yourself with empowering, like-minded individuals who truly get you and support your journey. Dive into communities, attend inspiring events, and ignite meaningful relationships that fuel your growth and amplify your impact. The power of connection is unstoppable. Your network, both personal and professional, is your greatest asset. Your network will support your new identity.

• Seek Mentorship: Learn from those who have already been in your shoes (and lived to tell the tale).

• Give Back: Lift others as you climb. Support and amplify others, recognizing that when we rise together, everyone benefits.

• Communicate with Empathy: Be open to challenging conversations to foster trust and collaboration. Be open, respectful, and caring.

Rise to Your Fresh Start

Leaving the corporate world is the start of something extraordinary. Now is your chance to reimagine your path, rediscover your passions, and unlock your potential. Dive into pursuits that bring meaning, richness, and fulfillment to your life! It’s never too late to align your life with what fulfills you.

Whether it’s leading a cause close to your heart, mentoring future leaders, or diving into a passion project, this is your chance to rise, shine, and thrive like never before. You have the power to embrace a whole new world with bold, fresh ideas, unlocking amazing surprises and results, proving you can be awesome at any age!

Are you ready to reset and rise in your Executive Encore? Share your story or join a community of supportive women ready to uplift and inspire. We are better together!

Are you seeking additional guidance and inspiration? Executive Encore coaching programs offer personalized strategies, assessments such as RAISEC and EQ 2.0, and other tools to help you prepare for and thrive during this transformation.  

Next Steps: 

You don't need to tackle this transformation alone. Learn about a different and more effective way to take charge of your Executive Encore experience. Contact me on my website's Contact Page or schedule an Executive Encore: 30-Minute Complimentary Call. 

Are you ready to redefine your encore chapter? Share your story or join the Executive Encore community of supportive women prepared to uplift and inspire. Together, let’s turn uncertainty into unstoppable momentum and build the Executive Encore movement!

Additional Resources

Navigating the Emotional Hodgepodge After Corporate Life, Patricia Muir, Encore Blog, June 6, 2025, 5-minute read

The History of Retirement, Michael McLeod, CFP®, CTFA, February 26, 2021, 5-minute read

Retirement Through the Ages: A History of Pensions and Policies, Simon Barcelon, October 26, 2021, 5-minute read

Aila is a fictional character. Alia's stories are drawn from real experiences shared by clients, colleagues, and friends. Some details, characters, and dialogue have been adjusted to keep the stories engaging and to respect the privacy of the amazing women who share their journeys with me. The name Aila is a revered female name in multiple cultures. Its meaning and origin in different cultures include strength, "from a strong place", noble, long life, and "bringer of light".