Welcome to Your Journey “Beyond the Corner Office”
Hello, and welcome to the first edition of Wise Words Newsletter. If you’re reading this, you likely understand that something I’ve discovered over the course of decades, success in the boardroom doesn’t automatically translate to fulfillment in retirement. Whether you’re a CEO planning your next chapter, an executive wondering “what’s next” or someone who simply refuses to believe that your most meaningful days are behind you, this newsletter is for you.
This year has been one of profound learning and unexpected turns. I made the difficult decision to leave behind the familiar world of executive coaching to venture into entirely new territory—book publishing and retirement transition coaching. Why? I’ve discovered something that keeps me awake at night: we’re sending brilliant, accomplished leaders into retirement, armed with financial portfolios but completely unprepared for the psychological journey ahead.
Table of Contents
The Book Update: Becoming a Previously Important Person
The manuscript is taking shape beautifully—I’ve completed the introduction and five chapters, with seven more to go. Each chapter I write, I am reinforced in my conviction that this message is urgently needed. Too many exceptional leaders are stumbling through retirement transitions they never saw coming.
My recent chapters dive deep into what I call “the identity crossroads”—that jarring moment when you realize you’ve been introducing yourself with your job title for so long that you’ve forgotten who you are without it. I’ve also captured the emotional rollercoaster that inevitably follows, because let’s be honest: no one warns you that leaving your dream job might initially feel like losing your identity.
I’m particularly excited about the Psychological Retirement Readiness Assessment I’ve developed. While financial advisors can tell you if your portfolio is retirement-ready, this assessment reveals whether you are psychologically prepared for life’s longest vacation. It’s designed to spark the conversations you haven’t been having and illuminate the preparation work that extends far beyond your 401(k).
Next up: exploring why social connection isn’t just nice to have in retirement—it’s the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
Featured in Forbes: The Psychology of Retirement
The New Retirement: Why Mental Preparation Matters as Much as Money
This piece struck a nerve. The response has been overwhelming—letters, calls, and LinkedIn messages from executives sharing their own stories of retirement unpreparedness. One former CEO wrote: “I spent thirty years planning what to do with my money in retirement, but not thirty minutes planning what to do with myself.”
The article addresses what I call the “identity vacuum”—that disorienting space where your professional self used to live. If retirement has caught you off guard psychologically, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. You’re simply experiencing what happens when we prepare for everything except the most important part of the transition.
Read the full article here
Retirement and Identity Crossroads: Who Are You Beyond Your Job Title?
After decades of purpose-driven leadership, many executives are blindsided by a simple question: “Who am I without my title?” This article explores the identity challenges that surface in retirement and offers a roadmap for navigating them with intention rather than anxiety. If you’re approaching this transition—or supporting someone who is—these insights might just reframe how you think about your next chapter.
Discover your identity beyond the business card
For Organizational Leaders: Supporting Your Retiring Talent
The Great Retirement Transition: 5 Strategies for Employee Wellness and Knowledge Transfer
With 4.1 million Americans reaching retirement age and 28% experiencing depression within their first year, organizations face a dual challenge: preserving institutional knowledge while supporting employee wellbeing. This article outlines five evidence-based strategies that transform retirement from an abrupt cliff to a purposeful bridge.
The most successful transitions don’t happen overnight—they’re carefully orchestrated over years, beginning with early conversations and ending with meaningful ongoing connections. Smart organizations are discovering that thoughtful retirement support isn’t just good for departing employees; it’s a competitive advantage that preserves wisdom, honors contributions, and strengthens culture.
Read the complete strategy guide
5 Things You Should Do to Optimize Your Wellness After Retirement
In this candid interview with Authority Magazine, I shared not only professional insights from my research but also deeply personal stories that shaped my understanding of retirement transitions. From career reinvention and cultural missteps to the emotional realities of stepping away from leadership, this conversation captures why this work has become my mission.
One story I share involves my mentor Brian, whose retirement celebration at a castle in England marked what should have been a triumphant end to an extraordinary career. Instead, it became the beginning of a struggle I didn’t understand then but recognize now as a profound identity crisis. His experience—and many others like it—drove me to pursue my PhD and dedicate my research to understanding what makes some retirement transitions successful while others become a source of profound loss.
Read the full interview
New on Udemy for Business: Leadership Impact in Your First 90 Days
For those passionate about developing emerging leaders, I’m thrilled to announce that my course “Leadership: How to Influence, Inspire and Impact as a Leader” is now available on Udemy for Business. Drawing from three decades of executive experience across seven companies and six countries, this course provides new leaders with a practical framework for making a meaningful impact from day one.
The course covers how to understand your real work (hint: it’s not just your job description), leverage existing organizational knowledge to drive improvements, and lead through the unique strengths of your team members. If you have emerging leaders on your team or are stepping into a new leadership role yourself, this course provides the clarity and confidence to succeed.
Recent Review from Vikramjit Dhaliwal: “The words are very impressive from Dr. Lorraine Wiseman; it is very inspiring. It sure gives a lot of clarity on how to communicate with the team and be the impactful leader you could be.”
In the Media: Leading Change in Uncertain Times
I recently appeared on the In Perspective podcast, expecting to discuss my upcoming book. Still, the conversation evolved into something even more valuable—a deep dive into what effective change leadership looks like in today’s rapidly shifting environment.
One insight I shared that resonates particularly strongly: People don’t resist change—they resist being changed. As leaders, our job is to be crystal clear about our destination, paint a compelling vision of success, and create a transparent path to get there.
In our current era of unprecedented transformation, strategic clarity isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for survival. The most successful leaders moving forward will be defined not just by their technical skills, but by their adaptability, resilience, and courage, coupled with compassion and patience for those navigating change alongside them.
Listen to the full conversation
What I’m Reading: Lessons from Unlikely Teachers
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
While I’m not necessarily an Elon Musk devotee, I couldn’t put this book down. Isaacson’s objective approach to storytelling reveals leadership lessons that transcend any single personality:
1. Have the courage to be a trailblazer – even when the path is unclear
2. Lose the ‘C’ players quickly – even when finding A+ talent feels impossible
3. Maintain a ‘can do’ attitude – asking “how can I?” beats listing reasons why you can’t
4. Culture can kill a business – a lesson Musk still struggles with
5. Core values are essential – especially when living them feels uncomfortable
This biography offers a wealth of insights into both what to emulate and what to avoid as a
leader.
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
This was hands-down the most impactful book I’ve read this year. I’ve purchased and gifted more copies than I can count. As a leader who spent decades personalizing feedback and trying to control or influence others’ actions (usually to no avail), this book offered a revolutionary perspective.
While the title emphasizes “Let Them” what it really teaches is “Let Me”—let me focus on what I can control, let me take the actions available to me, let me stop exhausting myself trying to change what’s beyond my influence. For any leader tired of the frustration that comes with trying to manage what’s unmanageable, this book is transformative.
Looking Ahead
As we navigate this changing landscape together, remember that retirement—like any significant transition—isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you actively create. The most fulfilling next chapters aren’t accidents; they’re the result of intentional preparation, honest self- reflection, and the courage to reimagine what success looks like.
Whether you’re planning your own transition or supporting others through theirs, know that the best is yet to come. Your years of experience, accumulated wisdom, and refined judgment don’t become irrelevant at 65—they become the foundation for your most meaningful contribution yet.
Until next time, stay wise.
Dr. Lorraine Wiseman
Author of “Becoming a Previously Important Person: Rediscovering Your Purpose in Retirement”
Want to continue this conversation? Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit LeadingtheWiseWay.com to learn more about preparing for life’s next chapter.