Retirement: Different by Design: Six Building Blocks Fundamentally Changing How Life After Work is Viewed, Planned For, and Lived - Softcover

Steiner Ph.D., Rick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1578265568 ISBN 13: 9781578265565

Publisher: Hatherleigh Press, 2015

Synopsis

Redefining the Retirement Experience

My name is Dr. Rick author of Retirement: Different by Design. I wrote the book because I failed; and, I hate to fail at anything. Indeed, I "failed" to accept what retirement offered, a second chance, a mulligan, life's one and only do-over. I, like many of us, expected retirement to appear fully formed just turn the work switch off and the retirement switch on. But I was wrong, really wrong!

Retirement--A Different Way of Life

Work for many of us was who we were and what we did--it's how we defined ourselves. But retirement changes everything--what's so hard about "doing nothing" we think and truly believe. Oh my friends, that's when it all can go wrong. You see, retirement is more than the absence of work--it's a different way of life requiring new vision, new purpose and new life perspectives. Retirement, disconnects us from our familiar daily routines and what structured our lives, our social networks, our paychecks and our reason for getting up every morning.

Who Should Read this Book?

• The soon-to-be retired wanting to know what retirement "can" be like for them; and, if they are really ready to retire
• Reluctant retirees fearful of what they will find on the "other side of work"
• The already retired who are flirting with failing retirements wanting to know how to turn them around

Providing Answers, Not More Questions

Trained as a journalist and educated as a Social Psychologist I decided to find out what "retirement" is all about--to understand why some retirements thrive while others descend into boredom, dull routine and dysfunctional and unhealthy behaviors. It quickly became apparent that I had to challenge and replace commonly accepted retirement and age myths and misinformation with new integrated models Retirement's Six Fundamental Building Blocks and Retirement's Ages and Stages redefining the retirement experience.

It's Not Always about the Money

We all can live socially rich, emotionally balanced, intellectually nourishing, healthful and physically active retirements no matter the size of our bank accounts because retirement isn't about how much money we have in the bank, but how much "richness and joy" we have in our lives.

About this title

About the Author

Rick Steiner, Ph.D. is a recognized university leader, organizational and management expert, consultant, and author. He has worked with US and foreign governments, foundations, and corporations to make communities and nations better custodians of their peoples’ futures. A recovering workaholic, Dr. Rick is now retired and keeping himself happily occupied by working as a professional ski instructor, writing, consulting, sailing, riding his bicycle, and always seeking his next adventure; and, most of all, enjoying the ride wherever it takes him.

From the Back Cover

RETIREMENT:DIFFERENT BY DESIGN, your bridge to the "other side of work," presents two dynamic and innovative templates for moving seamlessly into retirement and beyond--Retirement's Six Fundamental Building Blocks and Retirement's Ages and Stages. Providing practical strategies and answers, not more questions, each chapter delivers insights, tools narratives and models for making retirement the best years of the rest of our lives. And, it's not always about the money.

From the Inside Flap

What Goodreads reviewers are saying about Retirement: Different by Design

• This enlightening book is a "must read" for anyone approaching retirement. The author's funny and light-hearted writing style kept me laughing and engaged.
• An informative and well-rounded approach to retirement a subject many are sadly undereducated on. Well written and a Great Read, one I will recommend to others.
• One of the best overall books on retirement and I've read many. A great addition to the retirement planning field, one that stands out from the crowd.
• I read it in the course of an evening, and enjoyed how easy it was to read--like a trusted friend telling me all this interesting and valuable information.
• Most retirement books are focused on money as if it were all that matter. Dr. Steiner's book takes a much more well rounded approach to life after retirement.
• What a great book for retirement!!! I'm actually giving it a second read. Finally, a book that addresses the non-financial aspects of retirement. A perfect read at a perfect time and highly recommended for anyone making the transition to this net life phase.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

This book seeks to see retirement as a journey, not a destination—a road to travel, with lots of adventure along the way. First, we have to find that place they call retirement and, second, we have to figure out what we are going to do when we get there, what will be waiting for us when we arrive. Think of it as a personal journey of discovery and consider this book your travel guide to retirement.

The book identifies and examines three major retirement themes. First, it explores one of life’s most profound “Pivot Points,” moving from the world of work into the world of retirement; a transition that is perhaps easy for some and difficult for others. Retirement, while appearing to be a no-brainer, is anything but, and whether it ultimately succeeds or fails depends on understanding five critical concepts: (1) life as we know it will be different, and hopefully “good” different; (2) retirements don’t just happen, we have to make them happen; (3) retiring from work is easy, it’s living in retirement that can sometimes be troubling; (4) the behaviors and dogmas that served us well at work will not necessarily serve our best interests when retired; and (5) when we retire from something we have to retire to something—we must not view retirement as an opportunity to do nothing, but rather as an opportunity to do different things.

The second theme goes on to identify and define “The Retirement Life Cycle,” and how each “Stage” and “Age” is different from the other, requiring different responses, behaviors, and mindsets; and, most importantly, full acceptance of our aging selves. It describes how we can build and shape our own retirements, keeping in mind Retirement’s Six Fundamental Building Blocks, which are identified, defined, discussed, and analyzed to provide an understanding of how each Building Block contributes to the overall success and cohesiveness of our retirements, and how each Building Block is positioned one on top of the other to form an integrative whole in the form of a virtual pyramid. You will be the architect, builder, and resident of this virtual pyramid. If the design is poorly conceived or realized, the pyramid might collapse around you, and we don’t want that to happen, now do we?

The third theme focuses on each of the six Building Blocks individually, describing how every layer connects to the one below and the one above, forming an almost indestructible monolith and creating what I like to call “sustainable retirements.” A chapter is devoted to each of those six Building Blocks.

Retirement’s Six Fundamental Building Blocks
1: Physical, Psychological, and Emotional Health and Well-Being
2: Financial Security and Sustainability
3: Retirement Transition, Adjustment, and Acceptance
4: Intergenerational Life Engagement
5: The Intellectually Curious and Physically Active Retiree—Discovery Adventure and Challenge
6: Spirituality, Meaning, Family and Legacy

I ask you all to join me on one of life’s most exciting journeys, a trip to this place we call “retirement.” And, whether or not I ultimately succeed in my mission is up to you. If I positively impact even one life, then I have succeeded; if I transform one retirement from dull to daring then I have succeeded; if I give new hope to someone struggling with retirement then I have succeeded; and, if I make one new friend then I will have exceeded my greatest expectations.

—Excerpt from the Chapter 1 - Our Real Wonder Years, "How to Use This Book" by Rick Steiner, Ph.D.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hatherleigh Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1578265568
• ISBN 13: 9781578265565
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288