Redefining Retirement: How Reinvention Fuels Authentic Leadership
- eveenslow
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
When I joined Corey Koehler on the Redefining Retirement podcast, we explored a topic that’s deeply personal to me—and increasingly relevant to the leaders I coach: how to navigate midlife reinvention with purpose, clarity, and courage.
For many of us in our 40s and 50s, the traditional notion of retirement feels outdated. We’re not winding down—we’re waking up. We’re asking deeper questions: What do I want my time, energy, and talent to serve? What kind of impact do I want to have? And perhaps most importantly: What does success look like now?
From Burnout to Breakthrough
My own journey began with burnout. After decades in high-intensity roles at Microsoft and within the tech ecosystem, I found myself depleted—physically, emotionally, spiritually. I was a solo parent, raising a young child, and I realized the life I had built no longer aligned with the life I wanted.
So I made a radical shift. I moved across the country. I left the corporate grind. And I began building a business that allowed me to work with purpose, flexibility, and heart.
That decision wasn’t just about lifestyle—it was about legacy.
The Power of Personal Brand in Midlife
What I’ve learned—both through my own reinvention and through coaching dozens of executive clients—is that midlife is the perfect time to clarify and amplify your personal brand.
Your brand isn’t just your résumé or your LinkedIn profile. It’s the distilled essence of who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to contribute. It’s your substance (your skills and experience), your sizzle (your unique energy and presence), and your soul (your purpose and values).
When you align your brand with your next chapter, you don’t just find a new job—you find a new way of being.
Redefining Wealth, Redefining Work
One of the most powerful themes we discussed on the podcast was the evolving definition of wealth. In our 20s, wealth was about income. In our 40s and 50s, it’s about integration—time, health, relationships, contribution, and yes, financial stability.
This broader view of wealth is what fuels the leader branding work I do. Because when leaders understand what truly matters to them, they make better decisions—for themselves, their teams, and their organizations.
What’s Next for You?
If you’re feeling the nudge to pivot, to pause, or to pursue something new, you’re not alone. And you’re not behind. You’re right on time.
Start by asking yourself:
What do I want my time, energy, and talent to serve?
What kind of problems do I love solving?
What legacy do I want to leave?
And if you’re ready to explore those questions more deeply, I’d love to talk. You can book a warm-cup-of-coffee-style call with me at LeaderBrandYourself.com
Because reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. And your next chapter might just be your best one yet.
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