MARC AGRONIN: “And that’s the way it is . . .” These are fitting words for a retirement party, declaring the actuality of the ending career, tinged with a degree of mournful resignation. These words also represent the byline of my retirement role model—Walter Cronkite, one of America’s most enduring icons who served for 19 years as the anchorman … [Read more...] about Walter Cronkite: My Retirement Role Model
Don’t Start a New Career That Looks Like Your Old One
What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes to starting a second career? MARC AGRONIN: Blacksmith, cobbler and travel agent: What do these jobs have in common? On the one hand, all three jobs appear to be obsolete. But horses and people still need shoes repaired, and people still need help making travel plans. These jobs have not … [Read more...] about Don’t Start a New Career That Looks Like Your Old One
What to Change About Yourself in Retirement. And What Not To.
What’s the best way to forge a new identity after leaving the workforce? MARC AGRONIN: Here is a riddle: How does one change while staying the same? Longitudinal research on our core personality traits indicates that we remain largely the same people over time. Yet if anyone would compare their teenage and middle-age selves with respect to how … [Read more...] about What to Change About Yourself in Retirement. And What Not To.
Why Acting Younger Is a Mistake at Work
What’s the hardest part about working with younger employees, and what’s the best way to deal with it? MARC AGRONIN: Same restaurant chain, different locations: In location No. 1, my sandwich arrived after an unusually long wait, looking like someone had juggled its contents in the air a few times before letting them flop haphazardly askew on the … [Read more...] about Why Acting Younger Is a Mistake at Work
Why Spouses Will Likely Clash in Retirement
What’s the biggest source of friction between spouses/partners in later life? MARC AGRONIN: Retirement brings the certainty of spending a lot more time eyeball to eyeball with your spouse or partner. Previously established household routines will be disrupted as you adjust to being home with a lot more time on your hands. Changing attitudes, … [Read more...] about Why Spouses Will Likely Clash in Retirement
Why Retirees Should Read ‘Jazz’ by Henri Matisse
What gift would you give a soon-to-be retiree? MARC AGRONIN: Blacksmith, cobbler and travel agent: What do these jobs have in common? I would present a copy of the book “Jazz” by the great French painter Henri Matisse, with the following explanation. In 1941, the 71-year-old Matisse experienced a forced retirement after undergoing a … [Read more...] about Why Retirees Should Read ‘Jazz’ by Henri Matisse
Retirement Should Be a Transition, Not a Hard Stop
What’s the best way to “test drive” a retirement before you leave the office? MARC AGRONIN: Retirement can be one of the most significant and challenging life changes. What is initially gained in terms of leisure time and reduced stress can be offset by the loss of daily routines, socialization and purpose. Several studies, including the ongoing … [Read more...] about Retirement Should Be a Transition, Not a Hard Stop
Don’t Be Afraid of Retirement. Embrace the Possibilities.
What’s the biggest lie we tell ourselves about retirement? MARC AGRONIN: Many people fear retirement because they imagine it to be the beginning of old age. If a few wrinkles and gray hairs didn’t already herald this concern, retirement rings it in with all of its glory. Too often the “old age” they envision is a downward slide into a void that … [Read more...] about Don’t Be Afraid of Retirement. Embrace the Possibilities.
The Warning Signs of an Unhappy Retirement
What is the single difference you see between retirees who are happy and those who are not? MARC AGRONIN: The good news is that most retirees are happier than at any other stage of life. Don’t believe it? Consider a 2010 survey of over 340,000 individuals ages 18 to 85 that found some of the highest levels of wellbeing (and lowest levels of … [Read more...] about The Warning Signs of an Unhappy Retirement
Retirement Is Becoming Obsolete
What should companies do, if anything, to retain veteran workers and/or ease the transition to retirement? MARC AGRONIN: Aside from the likes of several exceptional quarterbacks, football is a game of replacement. When the task at hand is primarily a physical feat, youth is always favored. In this realm, experience counts, but only as long as the … [Read more...] about Retirement Is Becoming Obsolete