City of Maplewood’s Post

A lot can happen in a short time. My retirement from South Mountain Company is nearing the two-year mark. This passage of time causes me to reflect on the company’s new reality as well as my own. South Mountain is thriving, changing, and celebrating new freedom. I’ve noticed a few speed bumps (more like those long, low speed humps they use these days), but nothing to dim the glow. It’s thrilling to see the company progress beyond my leadership with tremendous vitality. For a while, I missed the habit of my South Mountain work. But for me, like South Mountain, I’d say things are mighty good. Between my “From Founder to Future” book project, work with a variety of transitioning companies through my Abrams+Angell partnership, and my affordable housing activism, the work side of this new phase of my life is multi-faceted. All good stuff. Some have said that certain retirements can become “ReFirements.” This feels like that—I’m learning more than I have in decades, but I haven’t fully figured out how to ease the pace of this new life. I’m still adjusting and finding a rhythm. Sometimes, it feels like I just graduated from school; the consistent structure of the past has been replaced by a daily dizzying puzzle that does not yet have the characteristics of habit. But I’m settling in. I’m healthy enough, happy enough, and have just enough of the joy, enrichment, and chaos that our sprawling family and network of friends brings. A calm and laid-back retirement? No. A good one? Yes. I feel lucky. How’s your “retirement” going? #DemocraticWorkplace #WorkplaceDemocracy #EmployeeOwnership

An interesting article that describes the "Third Half" of life and the trends associated with how we leave our main careers/identity and enter a new way of engagement. There are Four Mindsets described here. Where do you see yourself?

The most important lesson I learned from the late, great professional coach Barbara Sher: Never assume that because you’re not doing something you love in this moment that you won’t ever be able to do what you want. We all will be living long enough to have satisfying encore careers. And in turn, they will help us fund our increasingly long retirements. Read more: https://lnkd.in/geJEfwqY #WeRescueOurselves #NotYoungNotDone Barbara Sher

Happy Easter from Successful Transitions! All of us at Successful Transitions wish you a Happy and Safe Easter Holiday!   May you enjoy the day with Family and Friends! #careerinformation #outplacement #newjobs #careerchange #retirementplanning #businessservices

Choosing where you live can be a game changer when it comes to job opportunities and career trajectory. Here are three states to check out.

Why WTW? At a recent Development Manager meeting, we asked each other what we really love about our role and why WTW is such a great place to work. Here's just 30 seconds of my thoughts... Check out videos from Amanda Prest, Declan Gegg, Caroline Eccles, and Matt Wood for more reasons! #wtw #wtwlife #WTWretirement #actuary #management #peoplemanager #actuarialcareers

Ever find yourself waiting for the “right moment” to make a move? That's a ton of people right now with school starting, then the holidays quickly creeping up after Labor Day, and (of course) the scuttle with this upcoming election... I’ve had so many conversations where people feel like they should wait for everything to line up perfectly before they take the plunge. But here’s something I’ve learned from helping countless clients: Life doesn’t always give us that perfect moment on a silver platter. Instead of waiting for the stars to align, think about what makes sense for you right now. Sure, the timing might not look flawless on paper, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right time. What I’ve seen time and again is that when people trust their gut and go for it, they often realize afterward that the timing was actually just right. It’s not about finding a “perfect” time – it’s about making the best decision for you and your life as it is today. So if you’ve been on the fence, wondering if it’s the right time to make a move, remember: the best time might just be when you decide to go for it. #MakeYourMove #RightTiming #RealEstateDecisions #TheLoughinGroup #PottstownRealEstate #JanelLoughin #LivingInPottstown #PottstownRealtor #ChesterCounty #TheTimeIsNow

"🌟 Dive into the World of Learning and Connection with Lee Robertson! 📚💡 Join us for an insightful journey with Lee Robertson, a beacon of lifelong learning and the importance of social connections. Despite being an introvert, Lee embraces the power of learning from others, proving that every interaction is a chance to grow. 🌱🤝 From decades of friendship to valuable life lessons, Lee's experiences are a testament to the fact that personal growth and relationships hold more significance than material wealth. 💖🌍 Listen to Lee's captivating story about a retired couple next door, illustrating the crucial need for planning and adapting to life's changes, especially in retirement. 🏡🌹 Don't miss this chance to learn from Lee's unique perspectives and experiences! Tune in now! 🎧🚀 #LearningJourney #SocialConnections #LifeLessons #RetirementPlanning

Are you a retired clergy person looking to continue nurturing your spiritual calling? Dive into our latest article as we explore some of the best career options tailored for ministers seeking a meaningful path beyond retirement. From teaching to counseling and career coaching, discover how you can leverage your unique skills and experiences to make a lasting impact in this next chapter. 🙏✨ #RetiredClergy #SpiritualCalling #CareerExploration Learn more: https://ow.ly/b39h50QEck1

Despite having been unhappy in my job, leaving Liberty yesterday was harder than I anticipated. I spent the last few months since my position was eliminated referring to my experience as “a gift”. The situation forced me to not just roll through a reorganization like I have been fortunate (?) to do in the past but to make a choice… what kind of work do I enjoy, after 23 years on the hamster wheel do I need a career break, what have my career commitments meant to my work/life balance, to my emotional health, what does my family need from me, do I want to reapply for a job here or is this the push I needed to diversify my career, is the job market as bad as it sounds, are my skills marketable… the list of life questions goes on. At one point really early in the process I was going to activate my retirement “busy goals” - I was going to teach yoga (I’m not certified) and bake cupcakes (I’m a horrible baker)! I still laugh when I say that out loud and it’s still a stay-busy-goal for my retirement, just not yet. I then considered a long break - 6 months minimum - basically a full time wife, mom, daughter, friend and time to focus on my emotional health. I encourage anyone who can do this to do it. You won’t regret putting your family first, ever. While it was clear I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, I knew the best possible way for me to care for my family and self was to leave Liberty Mutual. So I did. It was my choice to not post for internal roles and I do not blame Liberty for putting me a position to leave. Instead I’m grateful! It may sound crazy, but I’m grateful because I needed the opportunity to reflect, ask myself what I really wanted, and be pushed towards my potential. Now the sappy part. After 23 years Liberty Mutual was a part of my identity, *or so I thought*. What I realized as I closed out my final week yesterday is the company isn’t my identity, the PEOPLE I’ve been able to work with are. Life and career experiences will always come down to the people you surround yourself with. Because of the way I left the company people took time to reach out and express how I impacted them. So. Many. People. People from my first role through my last, from coast to coast, in positions of all levels. I had all the emotions this week and sadness was one I didn’t expect to face for a gift I received, a choice I made, and a path I am excited to take. To all my internal colleagues that signed my e-card, emailed me, called me, IM’d me… you have no idea how much your thoughtfulness strengthened me, even if I did show it through tears! Within 6 weeks or so of my reflective journey I realized I actually do love my job and I really do want to balance a professional career into my personal life. I want to be part of something inspiring. I love leading people (and I’m good at it)! Stay tuned to see where I’m headed next.