Mix it Up in Retirement: Combine Interests for a New Vocation

Time to dance like no one's watching.

Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick J. O’Connor

Many retirees find themselves conflicted with what they plan to do in retirement. Sometimes this confusion is because they have many ideas, talents and interests. It is difficult sometimes to decide what interests you most and where it can take you. In our world today, this is a good problem to have, as it means you have lots of options. Things are always changing… a lot.

It is quite common to combine interests into a new career. For example, authors Michael Creighton and John Grisham mixed their interests and became two popular writers. John has a law degree but only practiced law briefly. He mainly just wrote about it. Same for Creighton who had an M.D. but never practiced medicine. Both mixed (leveraged) their interests to create another career opportunity.

Retiree Path to New Opportunities
Retirement is one of the rare times in life that most people can choose to do what they want rather than what they must do. The Boomer generation, like most before them, went to work, raised families, and did what had to be done to make ends meet. Many may have been unhappy in their work/career but did it because they had mortgages to pay and families to support. Well, retirement has finally arrived. If you are financially secure, you can now do as you please.

Retirement is a time to think broadly with no boundaries, to let it all hang out, shoot for the moon and dance like no one is watching. Maybe for the first time in your life, you can do what you want without concerning yourself with what others think.

Wisdom from two Road Less Traveled (RLT) subjects provide good advice along these lines. Dance professor Joan Meggitt, (Vol. 19) believes we should “take the leap… someone will catch you.” Entrepreneur Gwen Rosenburg ( Vol. 10) follows her own advice, living life with the mantra, “who cares if I stumble — no one is keeping score.” It’s no longer necessary to follow traditional rules and routines. It’s a time to reenergize and reinvigorate, rekindle old interests, or resurrect an earlier passion.

Mixing multiple interests was one of the characteristics of  these RLT subjects. The basic idea is to identify two or more interests, combine them and see what opportunities arise. For example, several RLT subjects such as Tom Fulton (vol. 13), Ann Kent (vol. 6), Joan Meggitt (vol 19) and Rachel Brown (vol. 18) blended their various interests to create additional career opportunities. This approach can also be applied to Boomers who are nearing or recently retired.

“It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters.” -Epictetus

Terry: Planning the Next Phase
Terry retired in July 2022 from a long, successful career in banking. She started at the teller window and worked her way up the ranks to an executive role. Her initial retirement plan was to do “nothing for a while” and see what happens. She has an idea for something she’d love to do if she gets bored down the road.

She is the oldest of seven children and spent a lot of time minding the “little ones.” She also has eight grandchildren and assisted with the births and infant care of each. She has many years of experience tending to and nurturing children. Her banking background required extensive attention to detail, much like mothering. Her life and work experiences are good preparation for a second part-time career as a postpartum doula.

A postpartum doula (unlike a midwife) assists new mothers with various mothering duties such as nursing, bathing and newborn care. They also assist with other siblings, provide emotional comfort/support and act as a resource for the family. An important part of the role is to give the new mom a chance to rest and recuperate.

There are lots of easy-access resources available for this role, including training, professional associations and credentials. In just a few clicks, Terry can access as many resources as she wishes and add them to her years of personal and business experience. Terry’s work and life experiences are an asset she can leverage in her new doula role, if she elects to pursue it.

Win-Win-Win
We’re all familiar with the win-win situation where two parties benefit from the same thing. Doula Terry and other retirees can have a win-win-win situation, where three parties benefit from the same thing. The new mom wins because she has competent, experienced assistance at a critical time in her life.  The infant and other family members also benefit from the care and attention Terry will provide. Terry wins since she is doing something important and meaningful to her. She is also using all those years of personal and business experience. She is turning what she loves into what she does.