One Year into Rewirement...

Hard to believe it’s been A YEAR since my "rewirement" from AT&T. ?? Time has flown by, and I’d like to share some of the year’s reflections. ?? Here’s how I’d grade myself:

?Retirement = F

?Rewirement = B+

The predominant definition of “retirement” is “when someone leaves the workforce for good”. I’ve never liked the word as it sounds so final and comes with significant bias about one’s “usefulness” and “contribution” to society ??. I never thought of the closure of my AT&T chapter as the end of my professional career, rather, after over three decades in the corporate world I knew I wanted to start writing a new and different chapter.?? And so, the “F” in Retirement. I’m not even close to being “done”!?

As to “rewirement”, this fresh start has been exciting, unexpected in several ways, and fluid.? It’s about intentional changes that more powerfully connect to your purpose – this phase of one’s career can and should be even more fulfilling than the prior one.?? I’ve decided to take a portfolio approach to rewirement, thus far expanding my contributions as a board and advisory member, continuing to invest in next generation leaders through teaching and thought leadership efforts including working to fulfill a bucket list item I’ve had since I was a young leader – to write my own book.?? Why the B+? Well, I didn’t do what 100% of my rewired colleagues told me to, which was, give myself a break and some downtime before I started inking any new roles. Maybe in Year 2?! ??

Some rewirement learnings:?

Identity - “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao-Tzu

??You are more than your job, your title, or your company affiliation. I knew the transition might be challenging, to close the door on a part of my identity lived for so long while pivoting toward the development of a new one. For me, this has been a bit of an experiment in experiences, and I’m still evolving in what I consider to be the “next 20 years” (or so) of my career. Most importantly, integral facets of my identity have become even more pronounced – mother, daughter, partner, sister, aunt, friend, and mentor. ?

Meaningful Relationships - “There comes a point in your life when you realize: Who matters, Who never did, Who won’t anymore, And who always will. So, don’t worry about people from your past, there’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.” ~Adam Lindsay Gordon

??People have been at the heart of my journey – both professionally and personally, and I was curious (and a little nervous) to see how some of these relationships would change with the shift in my professional identity. Wonderfully so, I’m still in touch with nearly all whom I believed we have genuine connection. As expected, meaningful relationships transcend time, frequency, and proximity – with these people, all it takes is a simple text, video call, social media engagement, in person gathering – to come back together. Also it turns out there were a handful of people where our decades of camaraderie and friendship were not genuine. Too bad. Gaining clarity on both what and whom to spend time with is actually wonderfully freeing.

Purposeful Choice - “We have a purpose in this world, something that, without us, would remain undone. Just as a plant needs sunlight to flourish, our world needs us to flourish.” ~Dele Ola

??We all want choices as they help us see our priorities more clearly. Both at work and at home, I’ve encouraged many people to create options for themselves. With choices, we process the world with a growth mindset vs. one of scarcity. In rewirement there are an abundance of opportunities and choices. And dare I admit that in the early months, virtually everything sounded interesting, further advancing my belief that my impact could in fact be greater in this next phase of my career (and life). What I’m involved in now is the result of purposeful choices, aligned with my ongoing commitment to business transformation, thought leadership and the cultivation of next generational talent. How will this change? I’m not sure, but I am certain that the journey will continue to be filled with growth. ?

Thank you to all who have lived this past year with and alongside me.??It’s been quite a ride thus far, and I’m confident that together we’ll move forward with intention, purpose, and joy.?? Here’s to Year 2!?????

PS – Would love to hear from others who have pivoted to their “rewirements” over the past year. Any surprises? Learnings? Insights and advice you want to share? Please do!

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