Beyond Purpose: What Retirement Really Demands

Last week, I joined fellow Leadership Fellows at the historic St George’s House in Windsor Castle to explore a theme that’s increasingly urgent in today’s world: focus and attention in leadership.

One idea from our discussions has lingered with me ever since:

“If the transition to retirement from your primary career were only about purpose, it would be easy.”

It’s a provocative thought—because we often treat “purpose” as the holy grail of post-career life. We talk about meaningful roles, giving back, staying engaged, and doing good. These are noble aspirations. But they assume something critical: that we have the foundations in place to pursue them.

The Hidden Foundations of Purpose

Purpose isn’t just a mindset—it’s a capacity. And without certain conditions, it remains theoretical, something we admire from a distance but struggle to embody. Here’s what purpose quietly depends on:

•  Physical and mental health: Not perfect health, but enough to act, engage, and contribute.

•  A meaningful relationship with yourself: Self-awareness, agency, and the ability to reflect and choose.

•  Deep, sustaining connections with others: Relationships that nourish and support your journey.

Without these, purpose becomes abstract. It’s something to think about, not something to live.

A Question Worth Asking

So when you imagine retiring from your primary career, don’t just ask, “What’s my purpose?” Ask instead:

“What is the most important piece of my foundation?”

Because once the foundation is strong, purpose doesn’t need to be chased—it begins to emerge.