Starting your second act after a fulfilling career can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Maybe you’ve reached retirement age but playing golf all day doesn’t appeal to you. Maybe you’ve done well in an industry that allows you the ability to be financially secure at a younger age and you are ready for a new challenge.
How can you parlay your legacy into a new passion? How do you repackage the lessons you’ve learned throughout your career for a new adventure? The foundations of your success can be utilized to build on your future aspirations. Here are three ways to extend your legacy into your next passion project.
Consulting
You’ve amassed a contingent of professionals and business contacts over your career. Put that network to use by consulting. Your experience is your calling card. As a proven subject matter expert in your field, you can parlay that background into an industry-specific service working with clients on strategy, planning, and problem-solving, and helping clients develop business skills and knowledge. These topics range from designing a business model or marketing plan to determining which marketing techniques to use and how to use them. The sky’s the limit!
Professionals and businesses alike who need a jumpstart to the next level could certainly benefit from your wisdom. Sharing the secrets to your winning formula as a business leader is a logical step towards constructing your legacy.
Public Speaking
Seek out the professional organizations you belonged to or that are prominent in your industry and begin a public speaking career to extend your legacy. You are a cherished member of your professional industry so reaching out to speak at the next conference or a monthly meeting is a no-brainer especially if you are still a member of an organization. Public speaking strengthens your reputation, enhances your personal brand, and gives you an opportunity to build your legacy in front of a captive audience.
Career Coaching
Facilitate the next career move of an up-and-coming professional as a career coach. Career coaching is an opportunity to help others make smart, strategic decisions whether they are a student starting their first job, a mid-career manager seeking promotion opportunities, or a seasoned executive ready for their own professional exit. Regardless of what career stage someone is in, they can always benefit from a career coach.
Retirement is not the end of the road for most of us. And the most successful individuals shouldn’t keep their amazing secrets to success, well, a secret! Your legacy can flourish and thrive by taking a few steps to ensure you give it room to grow.