Rethinking Retirement: A Different Conversation About Work and Purpose

“How much longer do you think you’ll work?”

It’s a question that surfaces often, especially as professionals move into the mid and later stages of their careers. Sometimes it’s asked directly. Other times, it’s wrapped in phrases like “What are your retirement plans?” or even hinted at through passing comments. But the sentiment remains the same: when does the working end?

For many, retirement is a goal—a long-anticipated milestone. But for others, it’s a question that doesn’t quite fit. Not everyone is working toward an endpoint. Some are working toward continued impact, connection, or the simple joy of showing up for something meaningful.

The traditional notion of retirement has evolved. The idea of stepping away entirely doesn’t resonate with everyone. It’s not necessarily about avoiding leisure or travel—it’s about finding fulfillment in purpose. For those who enjoy what they do, work isn’t something to escape from. It’s something to engage with differently over time.

What has changed is how we work. Today, many professionals are navigating their careers with more flexibility and self-awareness. They’re choosing work environments that support well-being, leaning into what matters most, and making space for their realities—be it chronic health conditions, caregiving roles, or simply a need for a different pace.

With time and experience comes clarity—and wisdom. Not just the kind earned through titles or years of service, but the kind that comes from life itself. From making mistakes, recovering, recalibrating, and learning what brings energy and what doesn’t.

This wisdom becomes powerful when it’s shared intentionally—in the right moments, in the right spaces, in ways that help others grow.

And perhaps that’s the new shape of legacy: not in retiring from something, but in continually showing up for something. Whether it’s mentoring emerging leaders, contributing through coaching, or offering insight from a place of lived experience—there’s still so much to give.

Some days might bring the temptation to step back entirely. But then there’s a spark: a conversation, a client, a leader coming into their own. And it becomes clear again—there’s still a role to play.

The landscape of work is changing, and so are our relationships with it. For those asking themselves what’s next, the answer might not be “retirement” in the traditional sense. It might be a redefinition of purpose. A new way of working. A different kind of contribution.

And that, in itself, is something worth getting out of bed for.

Angela