I turn 47 next month, and recently a theme has been surfacing again and again: in coaching sessions, in articles, in the networks and workshops I’ve attended, and in quiet moments of reflection.

That theme is retirement.

And the surprising truth is this, I feel like I’ve already retired.

Not because I’ve stopped working. Quite the opposite, my work is more fulfilling and aligned than ever.  I’ve stopped waiting for a future milestone and am living life on my terms. I’ve chosen to build a business and a lifestyle that reflects my values now, rather than someday.

Retirement Is Being Redefined

The traditional concept of retirement, work full-time until 65, then retreat into rest, feels increasingly outdated. Today, retirement is less about stepping out of work and more about stepping into purpose.

A recent Harvard Business Review article captured this shift powerfully. It revealed that over 10 million Americans over 65 are still working, and that figure is expected to rise to 15 million by 2032. These individuals aren’t just holding on, they’re thriving, contributing, and seeking meaning (Dychtwald, Morison, & Terveer, 2024).

Even more striking, 71% of over-65s say the best years of their life are not behind them, but still ahead. Retirement isn’t about disengagement, it’s about reinvention.

“Retirement isn’t the end of productivity, it’s the beginning of possibility.”
— Harvard Business Review, 2024

Why “The Intern” Stuck With Me

This shift reminded me of the film The Intern, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. It’s a warm, often humorous story, but also deeply relevant. De Niro plays a retired executive who joins a modern tech startup as a senior intern. What begins as a generational clash turns into something remarkable. He becomes a steadying force, a mentor, and a cultural cornerstone.

What struck me most is how his presence changed the business. Not by disrupting, but by grounding. Not through hustle, but through humanity.

In many ways, I see that potential in myself, and in many of the business owners and professionals I coach. We don’t need to give up work. We can see it differently. We can live, contribute, and grow in new ways, on our terms.

I shared some reflections on this in a recent LinkedIn post, especially around the value of age-diverse workplaces and what happens when we challenge traditional timelines for success.

Humans Still Matter, Even in an AI Age

Despite the noise around artificial intelligence and automation, one thing remains clear, businesses still need people.

We need emotional intelligence, lived experience, and perspective, qualities that can’t be programmed. We need calm heads, empathetic leaders, thoughtful mentors, and wise guides. We need human connection.

Retirement, as I see it, isn’t about disappearing. It’s about re-engaging differently, with more space, more clarity, and more choice.

What Retirement Means to Me

So what does retirement look like for me, at 47?

• Autonomy: I choose work that energises me, not drains me.
• Balance: I protect time for reflection, rest, and real life.
• Impact: I help clients create meaningful change without sacrificing themselves in the process.

This isn’t a pause, it’s a pivot. It’s not slowing down, it’s focusing in.

Your Turn: What Does Retirement Mean to You?

Whether you're 47 or 67, this question is worth asking,

• Are you waiting for a someday that might never come?
• What would it look like to build a business or career that supports your version of retirement now?
• What beliefs about ageing, achievement, or success need rethinking?

Maybe retirement isn’t an age or an end, but a mindset. A decision to start designing a life that’s rich in purpose, even if it includes work - especially if it includes work that matters.

If you’re at a crossroads, let’s talk. This could be your moment to shift gears, redesign your direction, and redefine what success means to you.

“The best time of your life isn’t in the past, it’s what you create next.”

References

• Dychtwald, K., Morison, R., & Terveer, K. (2024). Redesigning Retirement, It’s time for a new deal between employers and older workers. Harvard Business Review, March–April Issue.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Projections of the Labor Force, 2022–2032.
• Boston College Center for Retirement Research. (2023). National Retirement Risk Index.
• Meyers, N. (Director). (2015). The Intern [Film]. Warner Bros.
• Daly, S. (2024). Coaching, Mentoring, and Leadership Reflections on Retirement [LinkedIn post]. Retrieved from LinkedIn