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Frequent visitors to this blog know that I'm a major fan of the non-profit, Civic Ventures and its founder Marc Freedman. The goal of their work is to create a language, mindset, and cultural infrastructure around a new stage of life--the Encore Career. It's that period after your main income-producing career ends but before complete retirement begins. We all know it's there, but aren't quite sure what to call it. Until now.
With the publication of his new book, The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife(Public Affairs), Marc Freedman not only wants to name this new phase, but to align public policy, communities, education, employers, and individuals for success. I recently had a chance to talk to Marc Freedman about his book and the effort to make the "encore career" an official stop in a work+life fit journey.
Cali: Let's start with the basics. What is an Encore Career?
Marc: Encore careers are a form of practical idealism. In the past, when you hit 50 or 60 you thought about how you might volunteer. But now with people working longer, we see a hybrid need for income, renewal, and finding meaning through work.
Cali: What are three things you hope that everyone will do or feel after reading your book?
Marc: I would like people to:
Realize that a new stage of life is emerging between mid-life and retirement and old age.
Understand that the population flowing into this period is an undiscovered source of talent for society versus the gloomy vision of walkers outnumbering stroller. People in this new phase have the time and energy to use all of their experience, and we all benefit.
I hope that in creating this new stage these encore career individuals can get the country back on track, and...