How To Reimagine And Reinvent Yourself After One Career Ends And Find Your Mission Again.

I woke up one morning and it hit me- what I spent 23 years building was over, ever felt like this? Whether you left by choice or were forced out, it does not matter.

The chapter is closed. The uniform or suit is hung up, the title is gone, and now you are wondering what is next?

This article was inspired by Jo J. and Manny Wolfe whom I recently had on The www.verticalmomentumpodcast.com

I have been there. And chances are that you have too or maybe you see that day coming. Losing or leaving a career can feel like losing a part of your identity. It's easy to get stuck in what was and what could have been.

But here is the real TRUTH: the end of chapter is just the beginning of a new one. And it might be the best one ever.

So, let's talk about how to reinvent, reimagine and rediscover your purpose when the career you once built is no longer your path.

1) ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE NOT YOUR JOB:

For years, maybe decades your job was your identity. It gave you a title, a routine, and a sense of purpose. BUT here is the real deal: you are not your job or position. Your skills, values, and experiences don't disappear just because the job does.

When I left the military, I struggled with this hard, Who was I without my uniform, rank? Without a mission in life? It took a suicide attempt and time to realize that what I had learned- the discipline, leadership, the ability to adapt and overcome was still mine.

And it was time to apply those things to something new #Podcasting. So start there. Recognize that you are more than your job. You always have been.

2) TAKE INVENTORY OF WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED:

Your career may be over, but your skill set isn't. Take a step back and ask yourself:

What skills did i develop?

What challenges have I overcome?

What part of my job did I love (and which parts did I hate)?

How did I add value to others?

When I left one chapter of my life behind, I realized that my ability to lead, communicate, and adapt didn't have to stay locked in my past. Ut could shape my future.

And the same applies to you. Your skills aren't gone they just need a new outlet.

3) FIND A NEW MISSION:

Yes easier said than done. If you have spent your life serving others, leading teams, or solving big problems, you NEED a mission. Sitting still is not an option.

Ask yourself: What impact do I want to make next?

For some like me, that means starting a business. For others, it's mentoring the next generation, going back to school, or pivoting into an entirely different industry.

Your next mission does not have to look like your last one-it just has to be meaningful to you. And if you do not what that is yet? That is okay. Keep moving. Take action. Talk to people who have been where you are. The mission will reveal itself when you do the work.

4) BE WILLING TO START FROM ZERO AGAIN:

Reinvention is NOT easy. it might mean being a beginner again. It might mean swallowing your pride, learning skills, and taking big risks. When I started podcasting I was so green but I needed mentors like John Lee Dumas, Erik Allen Gary Vaynerbuck to teach me and I needed to be humble especially because I am older than them.

But let me tell you this starting over is not starting over from scratch. You are bringing years of experience, wisdom, and resilience into whatever comes next.

I have watched #veterans, corporate leaders, and #firstresponders go from feeling lost to finding new success in areas that they never imagined. the key? They were willing to be a student again.

The question isn't can you start over? It is are you WILLING to?

5) SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE:

Reinvention is not a solo mission. If you want to find your purpose again, get around people who are living theirs.

Connect with mentors who have made successful transitions like Steven Eugene Kuhn

Join communities that challenge you and inspire you like the Vetpreneur Tribe.

Cut out the voices telling you "stay in your lane" or that you are "too old to start over."

The fastest way to reinvent yourself is to surround yourself with people who refuse to settle.

6) TURN YOUR STORY INTO YOUR STRNGTH:

Your journey every high, every low, every pivot has given you something that no one else has your story.

And your story has POWER!

Maybe your reinvention is about helping others through the same struggles you have faced. Maybe it is about proving to yourself that you are capable of more. Whatever it is, own your journey. use it.

SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOO..........

If you are at a crosswords right now, wondering what is next, I want you to hear me. YOU ARE NOT DONE YET!

The skills, the passion, the mission, is still there. You just have to find out how to use it. Reinvention is not about going backwards. it is about taking everything you have been through and using it to build something new.

And You? You Were Built For This!

So go find your mission again, The world is waiting!

As Always Thank You :) For Being A Huge Part Of Our Success And Letting Us Be A Small Part Of Yours.

Your Friend And Coach.

Richard Kaufman