Instead of what do you do, the important question to answer is why you do what you do. What matters to you? What is your sense of purpose and passion?

With the unprecedented number of baby boomers approaching retirement there’s going to be tremendous need in a number of areas (think retirement communities, senior activities, financial planning, health care). I’m approaching retirement by doing something for myself that I think others can benefit from as well. That’s my why… 

Questions for consideration:

• Do you want / need to work? (part-time or full-time?)
• What kind of work “calls” you?
• What kind of work have you always wanted to do?
• Can you leverage the best parts of your pre-retirement career into post-retirement income generation?
• Do you want to be your own boss?
• Would “pro bono” work be satisfying?
• What causes would you like to help as a volunteer?
• Would a new career ignite the passion inside you?
• What would it take to start a new career and how quickly could you come up to speed?
• Could you start a new business without risking significant start-up capital?
• How will you manage your time?

Resources:

• The happy secret to better work (TED Talk) by Shawn Achor