Embracing Life's Next Chapter: Thriving in Retirement

What a whacked out past couple of weeks it’s been.

My much-loved stepdad died on Christmas morning. The family jokes that only Jerry would try to upstage Jesus Christ Himself. He was not an entrepreneur, but had so many qualities that would have made him a great one. Jerry always had wise advice, read voraciously, planned for everything, never met a stranger, whooped me routinely at Aggravation, and played banjo with the Buck Creek Jazz Band for many decades.

I wanted to share a few things I’ve (re)learned over the past two weeks of being here in FL to support him, and then my mom.

First… hearing is the last thing to go. I had the honor of sitting with Jerry for many hours before he died. During that time, I got to say what I needed to. Then I got to hold the phone to his ear for his kids to do the same. After that, I found his band on YouTube and played everything I could find for him. I swear I saw his hand moving under his covers, plucking an air banjo. Maybe knowing this will help you sometime. I learned it from my aunt earlier this year.

Second… proper hydration and a daily walk are incredibly important. I mean, we all know this, but it’s easy to let that slide when you’re in a situation that’s not normal for you. Especially if it’s stressful.

Third… I’ll tell you that one after today’s entrepreneur feature.

Sharon Rolph stared at the clock on her office wall. Tick. Tock. The seconds crawled by, mocking her. Retirement loomed, and with it, a gnawing question: "How will I know if I'm productive?"

After decades in the corporate world, Sharon felt invisible. Unheard. Undervalued. Now, at 77, she's anything but. Author, podcast guest, Instagram's "Queen of Courage." Not bad for someone who once struggled to speak up in meetings.

From Invisible to Influencer

Sharon's journey from corporate wallflower to motivational powerhouse wasn't an overnight transformation. It started with a simple email in her work inbox. Boeing was partnering with a community college for a coaching class. Most people would've ignored it. Not Sharon. She saw an opportunity.

"This is a natural progression of my career," she thought. Little did she know how right she was.

The first weekend of class, just days before her retirement, Sharon discovered something revolutionary: her essence. Standing in a circle with other participants, she read aloud:

"I am a precious jewel of wisdom. I am a colorful collaborator, motivator, and learner. I am tranquil, authentic, and pure inspire. I light fires. I'm here to light your fire."

Sniffles echoed around the room. Sharon realized she wasn't alone in her emotional response. For the first time, someone had asked her to define her soul. It was a turning point.

Retirement Reality Check

But retirement wasn't all essence statements and self-discovery. The reality hit hard. No more colleagues. No more structured days. No more clear sense of purpose. Sharon found herself bouncing off the walls after just a few months.

She wasn't alone. Many retirees face this emotional and social void. It's not just about financial planning. It's about finding meaning when your identity is no longer tied to a job title.

Volunteering: The Unexpected Joy

Sharon's mother's words echoed in her mind: "When you bless someone else, you are blessed too." So, she started small. Delivering groceries from a food bank to four families. It seemed simple enough.But something magical happened. Connections formed. A deaf grandson helping with groceries. A shared moment over matching red shirts. An unexpected gift of plums from an overloaded tree. These small interactions filled a void Sharon didn't even know she had.

Sparking Joy in Others

Now, Sharon's on a mission.

She's helping retirees rediscover their "spark" – that thing that makes their hearts sing. It could be as simple as tending to a community garden or as ambitious as following monarch butterfly migrations.

Her approach? A mix of practical advice and soul-searching questions. "What makes your heart sing?" she asks. It's not just a question. It's an invitation to reimagine retirement.

The Reinvention Blueprint

Sharon's not content with just finding her own purpose. She's created courses, written books, and become a podcast regular. Her message is clear: retirement doesn't have to mean the end of productivity or purpose.

She challenges retirees to explore new passions, embrace volunteering, and keep learning. It's not just about staying busy. It's about finding fulfillment.

A New Kind of Productivity

For Sharon, productivity in retirement isn't measured by a boss's approval or a paycheck. It's measured in plums shared, in dogs fed on daily walks, in wisdom imparted through podcasts and speaking engagements.

She's living proof that retirement can be a time of incredible growth and satisfaction. Her days now feel right. Purposeful. Aligned with her essence.

The Road Ahead

Sharon's journey is far from over. She's eyeing speaking engagements at retirement communities, considering a run for Senior Miss America, and even contemplating cruise ship lectures. Her goal? To reach as many retirees as possible with her message of empowerment and vitality.

As she puts it, "When you're living from your spark, every day feels marvelous and a little bit like heaven on earth because it fits you."

Not bad for someone who once felt invisible. Sharon Rolph is proof that retirement isn't an end. It's a beginning. A chance to redefine productivity, purpose, and passion. On your own terms. No boss required.

3 reasons to get on more podcasts in 2025 (and one way to make that strategy much easier)

I’ve recorded nearly 100 guest interviews now, between a couple of shows. Been on several, too.

Why do guests guest? And maybe you should, too?

Here are the top 3 reasons…

1. Getting in front of new audiences. Ad spend = $0. Potential reach = Sky’s the limit. You never know who’s listening. Your next customer? Next team member? Next investor or collaborator? All possible.

2. Content creation, the easy way. Get the download, head to Capsho (use promo code SUSAN to get 20% off your first three months), and get truly solid written content... like, 20 pieces of it per upload.

3. Practice sharing your vision. One of your most important jobs as a founder is to learn to communicate your vision well. (See #1!) Practice really does make perfect.

If you’re not seeking to guest on podcasts, I’d REALLY love to know why!

Does it take some work? Yes.

Does it have to take a lot of time to do that work? Nope.

I’ve become slightly addicted to building helpful bots to help my content clients (and myself) do smart stuff faster.

That’s why I build a set of bots that will help you guest on more podcasts with less brain strain. You can check them out in this free guide.

The third lesson that hit home this week…

It’s really easy to take our brains for granted. Our physical health and strength, too.

Entrepreneurs are possibly the most forward-thinking people I know when it comes to brain health.

It makes sense that we’d be like that. After all, our minds are where we work and create. We do the equivalent of running a mental marathon every day.

My grandfather almost made it to his 99th birthday. He’d been a doctor his whole career. When he retired, he passed along some great advice. “Make sure you have somewhere people are expecting you to show up every day. Get exercise every day. Never stop learning.” He also had two fingers of scotch every evening at five o’clock. No more, no less, no later, no earlier. (And woe to the poor schlubs who fell for his “I’m new at pool. So, I hit which ball?” schtick - they were about to lose some money!) He took college courses (astrophysics mostly), worked out daily, volunteered, and lived a fantastically full life.

Mental acuity has been on my mind the last couple of weeks. Bunking with my brother at my mom’s retirement community (btw, must pronounce that - and include the hand gesture - like Tony Soprano) has reiterated to me the importance of brain health.

That’s why I was pretty excited when Switch Supplements reached out to sponsor today’s newsletter.

Switch is running a New Year’s Fix My Sleep Challenge. You’ll get a 30-day risk-free trial of KillSwitch with an exclusive 20% discount (stackable with their current offers!). If your sleep doesn’t significantly improve, they’ll give you a full refund—no questions, nothing to return.

I’ve used On-Switch and Kill-Switch a lot over the years and think it’s a great pair of nootropic products.