Your retirement elevator speech

Number 24

Unlike some people, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn’t have a singular talent or focus. My best subject was English, and I was decent writer, so I went with the only thing I was any good at and majored in journalism. That led to a surprisingly lucrative career in corporate communications.

But like so many others, I tried to define myself through work. And even in retirement, I’ve struggled with it. Perhaps it’s like this for everyone. Maybe you were a nurse or an engineer, you think, well, that’s what I did. That’s who I am. But if I’m not doing it anymore, who am I now?

I didn’t think of myself as a writer. I was a communications professional by trade, and writing was one of my competencies. My skills served me well, but it didn’t seem like enough. Part of me always thought or hoped there was a brilliant writer in there somewhere waiting to be released from the tyranny of having to earn a living.

It has been four years now since I retired, and my secret genius is nowhere to be found. At first, I was like, bitch, show your face! But I don’t know. Lately, I’ve been thinking, good riddance. Why should I hang onto a dream I fabricated as a child because it’s the only thing I could come up with at the time?

Retirement is different for everyone, but it can be a journey toward freeing ourselves from expectations and accepting we don’t have to be more than we are. Shedding layers and perhaps defining our self-image.

When I was working, we were supposed to have an elevator speech – a quick but memorable sound bite to introduce ourselves and convince someone we were all that and a bag of chips.

I never came up with a good elevator speech, but I’ve been working on the new and improved retirement version. Here goes:

Most days I’m a decent human being with a multitude of interests who enjoys life and sometimes writes.

What’s yours?

15 thoughts on “Your retirement elevator speech”

  1. Sounds to me like you are finding success in retirement. Also don’t give up on the writing thing. I for one enjoy both your writing style and the topics you include in your blog.

    1. Thank you very much! IF anything, coming to terms with the place writing has in my life should have a positive effect on my blogging.

  2. Well, let’s try and not overthink it, and give it a shot-

    “Super intense, sometimes annoyingly so, happiest in motion on land or water, restless, love my guitar, would lay down my life for my daughters and granddaughters.”

    1. Like Tamara, I tried not to overthink it. For me, the idea was to capture who I am beyond what I do or did for a living.

  5. Thanks for your insight. I’m almost there. Your wise words and wisdom was what I needed today! You’ve expressed much of what I felt my whole life. I feel as though I’ve arrived without an elevator speech and maybe it just doesn’t matter at this point. 🧐

    1. I’m so happy to be helpful. I hope you get where you want to go. It feels good to let go of the idea that you have to be someone.

  6. I never knew what I wanted to be either, and still don’t. But I had a good career and am now a happy retiree. I guess being a dabbler isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe “I’m a happy dabbler” should be my elevator speech. I’m really enjoying your blog and your artwork!

    1. The Happy Dabbler — sounds like a good name for a blog!

      I’m delighted you’re enjoying Retirement Confidential, as well as my primitive artwork. Thanks for the encouragement.

  7. I’m like Tracey… also a dabbler. I dabble in writing, among other things. I think the closest I’ve come to an “elevator speech” in my retirement lifestyle vision – “I’m living a life that is active, connected, creative, and contemplative.” And yes, I tried hard to find a “c” word to replace active for the aliteracy, but never found one that worked! So much for being an accomplished writer.

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