You're Not Alone: Lots of Aging Professionals Struggle with Semiretirement

 It "felt wrong" that former US President Barack Obama was so front stage during the Kamala Harris campaign. What seemed palpable was a need to be highly visible yet again.

More recently (November 19th) with his second memoir "Citizen," former US President Bill Clinton is again out there. The Guardian is not kind:

"Like an old-time vaudevillian, the 42nd president, now 78, finds it hard to leave the stage."

Although the book has a high ranking on Amazon, it comes across as more than 400 pages of platitudes. The style is out-of-date (that is, boring) and the content rings inauthentic. About the latter:

"I had loved being president, but I supported the two-term limit and was determined not to spend a day wishing I still had the job."

However, the whole Bill Clinton ethos can be experienced as a longing about "wishing I still had the job."

Then there is Disney leader and author of bestseller "Ride of a Lifetime" Bob Iger who did make it back on-stage with a second run as CEO. Given that the media landscape has changed so much since his first run his legacy, once glowing, is currently in play. 

Disgraced Leon Black is making his way back into polite society, although he no longer has those power titles of CEO/Chairman of Apollo and Chair of the Museum of Modern Art. He has the money to live well in the wilderness but has decided to return. 

Ultimate poster boy for comebacks Michael Milken, whose legal defense was orchestrated by Paul Weiss, found a new stage post-prison. 

Meanwhile, we have to wonder how current big names will handle their time to let go of power, that is, shift to semiretirement. You know, go on lecture tours, publish op-eds and maybe even launch a podcast. Right now, US Supreme Court Justice, despite health challenges, Sonia Sotomayer will continue to stay on. What that position provides will be hard to give up. 

Given the heady experience of fame the odds are that most who remain alive beyond their expiration date will do whatever to create a semiretirement which replicates many of the perks of their previous identity. At the top of the list is this: attention. 

Meanwhile as an intuitive coach I assist those whose careers have been successful but not high profile to transition to other kinds of work realities. The typical concern is not the loss of attention but the hits to professional identity and compensation. The experience can be heavy with loss. 

However, what is beginning to be recognized, although not easily accepted, are the gains in inner peace, genuine satisfaction with what daily life can introduce and surprise what else can be sources of income, no matter how much less than in the peak earning years.

Navigating that transition that way can prevent looking so foolish by not letting go.

Life is hard. Business is especially difficult these days. Get answers – and peace of mind. Jane Genova is a results-driven confidential intuitive coach, tarot reader and content-creator related to careers. Complimentary consultation (please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)