Hyrum W. Smith - Purposeful retirement: how to bring happiness and meaning to your retirement

Advance Praise for

Purposeful Retirement

Retirement can easily be an unbelievably bright future for you and your loved ones. You are not a has been, you are a will be. Above all, be purposeful. Enjoy all that lies before you!

Ken Blanchard, New York Times bestselling author of The One Minute Manager
and Refire, Dont Retire

I agree wholeheartedly with Hyrum Smith: you may be retired, but you can still live with meaning, purpose and energy.

- Marshall Goldsmith, executive coach, business educator and New York Times bestselling author of Mojo

Copyright 2017 Hyrum W. Smith

Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

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PURPOSEFUL RETIREMENT:

How to Bring Happiness and Meaning to Your Retirement.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication has been applied for.

ISBN: (hardcover) 978-1-63353-503-9, (ebook) 978-1-63353-502-2

Printed in the United States of America

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter.

-Mark Twain

Table of Contents

Purposeful
Retirement

Foreword

Whats next?

Thats a profound question we will all need to answer as we move into the last third of our lives. This timely and insightful book by Hyrum Smith will help us develop our response to this important, unavoidable, and potentially inspiring question.

As Hyrum mentions in his authors preface, hes not retiredat least not in the traditional definition of retiring from a life of work and contribution to a stage of leisure and idle accumulation. My father, Stephen R. Covey, strongly believed the same. His advice to his family, and to the world, was to live life in crescendo! In other words, believe that your greatest contribution is always ahead of you. You might retire from a jobbut never retire from making contributions. Indeed, life is about contribution, not accumulation. Hyrum admirably exemplifies this wisdom in his life and in this book.

I came to know Hyrum very well when we merged Covey Leadership Center, the company founded by my father, with Franklin Quest, the company Hyrum established. I was serving as the President and CEO of Covey Leadership Center at the time and continued on with the newly merged company, FranklinCovey Co. I found in Hyrum an absolutely fascinating person who embodies purpose and passion. And what I learned quickly was that one of Hyrums greatest qualities is his extremely generous nature.

Soon after the merger was completed, Hyrum and his kind wife, Gail, invited my wife, Jeri, and me to their spacious ranch in southern Utah. They were such hospitable hosts and they made us feel so special throughout our stay. I thought this was something unique to us because of our significant business relationship only to discover later that this was the way Hyrum and Gail treated everyone. Indeed they have hosted hundreds, if not thousands, of people at their ranch (it was rumored that some people actually lived on the ranch for years!). Hyrum genuinely seeks to make a difference in the world through his amazing gifts and talents.

As you read this book, you will likely find your existing ideas about retirement challenged. Hyrum will stretch your comfort zone in his incomparable way. Know that this book is not for everyone. If retirement for you is whiling away your hours in leisure, you probably wont enjoy this read. You will find that Hyrum will cajoleand inspireyou to make more of your years ahead.

There are three things I think youll really value about this book.

First, what youll find in here is a lifetimes worth of wisdom and experience from a straight-shooting storyteller who practices what he preaches. With Hyrum, what you see is what you get. Take the time to savor his insights in each chapter. Then respond to each of the Purposeful Planning Questions that spur reflectionand action. This is not just a light scattering of ideasits very hands-on and deserves not only reading, but implementation.

Second, this wisdom is supported by examples from interesting people Hyrum has met and interviewed, and some he has known for decades. Their experiences inform and support the ideas and suggestions presented and give a real hope and possibility that you can do this too, as well as the cautionary tales of those whove not retired purposefully.

Third, and the most fun, is Hyrums sense of humor. It shines through on almost every page, whether its in stories from his remarkable life or amusing sidebars hes collected through the years. I wont be surprised if you laugh out loud at some of themI certainly did! And if you ever have an opportunity to hear him speak in a live setting, take it. Hyrum is absolutely one of the most engaging and powerful storytellers Ive ever heard.

I predict Hyrums purpose and passion for life will inspire you. From my years of working with leaders and organizations to increase trust, there is a great need for each of us to make a unique contribution to improve the world.

Hyrums fundamental challenge is to encourage you to develop confidence in your new identity in this new stage of life. In other words, its an inspired invitation to trust yourself for the purpose of making new contributions and creating a better world where people trust wisely.

I hope you enjoy your journey of exploring whats next. Indeed, the rest of your life can be the best of your life!

Stephen M. R. Covey
Co-founder & Global Practice Leader of FranklinCoveys Speed of Trust Practice, Author of The Speed of Trust and Smart Trust

Preface

W hen it comes to writing, there is one cardinal rule: you write what you know. Understanding this rule, I am going to confess here in this Authors Preface just one thing. I wrote this book on creating a Purposeful Retirement, but I am not retired. At least not in the way it is traditionally defined and has been traditionally lived. Im way too busy for that.

Im still writing, Im still teaching seminars all over the country, Im still volunteering my time to wonderful programs and projects. Im still trying to make a difference in this world.

I am not retired. Im not done yet. And Im certainly not dead yet. Im just doing something else. And its great!

Within these pages, you will not find hints on how to improve your shuffleboard game. I am not going to list restaurants for you that offer Early Dining specials. And Im definitely not going to tell you how to make the most of your Netflix subscription.

But I am going to provide some suggestions on how to create and live a purposeful retirement that brings you joy.