Surprise: Missing the Work Rhythm

What if retirement isn’t the end of something — but the beginning of something better – and deeply meaningful?

Dr. Susan Reid thought she was ready for her next chapter when she retired early from her career as a university professor. But within weeks, she realized she’d gone from 100% full throttle to zero — and felt adrift. That awakening led her on a powerful journey to re-vision retirement — for herself and for the millions of others who feel they’re “not done yet.”

In this conversation, Dr. Reid shares the insights from her research and personal experience — about identity, purpose, and how to craft a clear vision for the next phase of life. You’ll hear how to move from “what am I leaving?” to “what am I moving toward?” and how meaning, contribution, and joy can fuel a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life after you leave full-time work behind.

If you’re planning your own next act — or helping someone who is — this episode will change how you think about what comes next.

Susan Reid joins us from Halifax.

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Bio

SUSAN REID is an award-winning expert on the topic of vision. Until 2021, Susan was a tenured professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec. As a teacher, researcher, and keynote speaker, she works at the intersection of marketing, innovation, and user-focused design, with an in-depth focus on the topic of vision, particularly for older adults and entrepreneurs. Her book on Entrepreneurial Vision: A guide for charting and implementing the vision process (co-authored with Charles Crawford). Susan is also the co-founder of Domaine Pinnacle, a pioneering Canadian producer of craft ciders and spirits.

When she retired at age 57, after years of helping businesses and individuals develop their visions, Susan realized, to her surprise, that she had not set a vision for her own retirement. This led her to develop a workbook (Re-Visioning Retirement) for people just like her.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University, an MBA from McGill University, and a Ph.D. from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.

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For More on Susan Reid

Re-Visioning Retirement: A Workbook

Website

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Podcast Conversations You May Like

Joyspan – Kerry Burnight, PhD

The Power of Reinvention – Joanne Lipman

When Will You Flip the Switch? – Dr. Barbara O’Neill

Make Your Next Years Your Best Years – Harry Agress, MD

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About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time.

About Retirement Wisdom

I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet, discover what’s next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn’t just happen by accident.

Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms.

About Your Podcast Host

Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking.

Joe has earned Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University.

In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy.

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Wise Quotes

On Retirement and Meaning

“Most people after they retire feel like they’re not done — they want to create meaning, but many don’t know how to go about it.”

On Transitioning to Retirement

“I went from 100% full-out work to 0% in just a few weeks. That was a real eye-opener — and it made me realize how many others feel the same.”

On Vision

“Vision is a cinematic preview of the world you want to see. When you hold a clear vision, you stack the deck in favor of success.”