Blanchard Kenneth H. - Refire! dont retire: make the rest of your life the best of your life

This book is full of simple truths of profound value to mature adults in transition who are ready to focus on significance rather than success. It is also playfully inspiring, encouraging the reader to be open and spontaneous through such things as identifying a Last Minute Gang and living by the Nothing Ordinary rule. Its a delightful read!

Mary Lindenstein Walshok, Professor of Sociology and Dean, University Extension, University of California, San Diego

Companies could help their executives before leaving by using this book. C-level executives are often at a loss after stepping out of a power seat. This book wouldve made my transition much easier as I floundered to regain my purpose and passion. I will use Refire! lessons to help my leaders move from success to significance and regain the passion they once had for running their organization.

Alan Sorkin, Executive coach, Vistage International

Ken Blanchard is a master storyteller. Morton Shaevitz has been working for years in the arena of older adults and looks at aging from a new and different perspective. Refire! Dont Retire goes down easy and is packed with practical wisdom.

Bob Buford, founder, Leadership Network and The Halftime Institute and author of Halftime and Drucker & Me

Refire your love, joy, passion, purposefulness, success, and significance with this magnificent book! Drink deeply of the wisdom of Ken and Mortons brilliance so you can have a delightfully ageless future with ever more fun.

Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of The Miracles in You series

Refire! is a blueprint for a new, exciting, vibrant, meaningful, serving life. If you have to have a tattoo, this title would make a good one. Ten thousand people turn sixty-five every day. They should all be required to read this book.

Hyrum Smith, author of The Power of Perception and What Matters Most

Refire! Dont Retire will re-energize you and your relationshipsas well as your book club!

Iris F. Litt, MD, Professor Emerita of Pediatrics and former Director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University

Refire! Dont Retire

Make the Rest of Your Life
the Best of Your Life

Ken Blanchard
& Morton Shaevitz

Refire! Dont Retire

Copyright 2015 by Polvera Publishing and Morton Shaevitz
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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First Edition

Hardcover print edition ISBN 978-1-62656-333-9

PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-62656-334-6

IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-62656-335-3

2014-1

Production Management: Michael Bass Associates

Cover Design: Irene Morris

To Zig Ziglar
19262012

An author, salesman, motivational speaker,

and inspiring friend who first introduced Ken

to the concept of refiring. With his incredible,

positive energy, Zig made a difference in the lives

of everyone with whom he came in contact.

The First Key
Refiring Emotionally

The Second Key
Refiring Intellectually

The Third Key
Refiring Physically

The Fourth Key
Refiring Spiritually

Its often said that there is no such thing as a coincidence. Given the dynamic nature of the universe, when things happen, they happen for a reason. So, when the two of us met on an early morning flight from San Diego to New York, it was not by chance.

Perhaps it was serendipitysomething that was destined to happen, that was meant to be. If we pursue this concept further, we find the Yiddish word bashert, which roughly translates into a happy, joyous event that was meant for good.

So what are you into and whats new in your life? was the beginning of our plane conversation. For the next fifteen minutes, we spoke with growing enthusiasm and animation. We talked about the things we were doing, and especially what we were excited about. When Morton mentioned he was working in the area of older adults and looking at aging from a new and different perspective, Ken piped up and said hed been thinking about similar issues. The term he was using was refirean attitude of embracing the years ahead with enthusiasm rather than apathy. At that moment, this book was born.

We continued talking nonstop, leaning over the airline seats that separated us. Finally, we had to be forcibly seated by the flight attendants so that the plane could take off. Throughout the five-hour flight to New York, we continued to exchange ideas until the movie came on and silenced us. As we deplaned, we decided to meet soon to continue the conversation.

By the time we met again, Morton had attended a birthday party for someone he had known in college. He came back intrigued by what he had observed. It wasnt just that everyone looked olderof course they did. It was how differently they were approaching aging. While some seemed intellectually energetic and engaged in the world, others seemed to have little joy or sense of a futurenothing they were striving for.

Coincidentally, Ken and his wife Margie had just returned from a two-week cruise. Ken reported similar observations about his fellow travelers, most of whom were seniors. Some were vivacious, taking advantage of the classes and activities offered by the cruise ship, while others were withdrawn and didnt come alive until mealtime.