Success in Autumn

Creating Your Life After Work

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Colonel Harland Sanders, Martha Stewart, Toni Morrison, and Grandma Moses have something in common. They reached success at 50+ years old.

Sanders incorporated the name Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1955 when he was 65 years old and began franchising. Martha Stewart worked as a stockbroker, started a catering business in her basement in 1973, and wrote a book, Entertaining, in 1982. The 50-year-old launched, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., in 1991, and became a celebrity.

Toni Morrison, the celebrated novelist and editor, earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 when she was 57 years old and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature five years later. Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma Moses” began painting at 78 years old. Her art was shown at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in her 80s. At age 93, the former farmwife graced the cover of Time Magazine.

As we age, the definition of success often changes from our working years. For many, our title, salary, perks, office size, company car, and span of control were used to measure success. As social media influences culture--impressions, followers, engagement, and click-through rates are layered on traditional success metrics. For others, as the years progress, there is a shift from “success” to significance.

This isn’t to say living comfortably is no longer important. Significance is often about providing a legacy to loved ones, a community, or society. We want to be remembered for the time we spent on earth. For others, it is investing in a luxury car or trip that wasn’t practical when children were younger. While others who have overcome life-threatening diseases may declare health as their wealth.

I have several friends and former corporate colleagues redefining success in their life after work. This week I visited the Second Friday’s monthly reception hosted by the Fishers (IN) Arts Council. The exhibit gave a spotlight to artists in their Golden Years. A friend, still working, had paintings in the exhibit (both were sold before I arrived). She is creating art in various mediums and pursuing nature photography in a more relaxed phase of her career.

A friend and former coworker recently completed a manuscript of a historical novel (it is a page-turner) and she is looking for an agent. Another former corporate colleague from the same company is pursuing his passion for wine as the owner of a California vineyard after retiring from a 25-year medical equipment sales career. I have close friends who retired in their 50s; the couple began a promotional products company they operated for more than a decade in Central Indiana.

Pursuing a passion or finding a new one is not only for the rich and famous. Anyone can use their extensive organizational experience to develop new dreams in their life after work. There’s also the option to pursue the 3 Gs retirement (grandkids, gardening, and golf) which is also a valid choice. With the prospect of a healthy life into our eighth or ninth decade, success after work is whatever you want it to be.

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” –Dolly Parton