Podcasts, Privacy and People
64PLUS has recently launched a series of podcasts called “About You” (see the blog section of http://www.64plus.com.au/) in which I interview a retired/retiring person and then post it to my website and distribute through social media.
This exercise has got me thinking about why someone would or would not want to appear on my podcast. Here are some thoughts:
Top reasons to want to appear:
You have some great ideas you want to share with others like you
You think it will be fun to be in a podcast-you are an extrovert
You are not worried about being judged for what you say
Top reasons NOT to want to appear:
You are still working and don’t want the boss to know what you are thinking
You are not happy to share your thoughts in public
You don’t think you have anything worthwhile to say on the subject
So there it is. People are different. But this brings me to the question of retirement coaching and why there seem to be some impediments that prevent some people from seeking a retirement coach’s help. Could there be some embarrassment in asking for this kind of help?
We don’t hesitate to pick up the phone for dentists, cobblers and plumbers when we need their help. But retirement coaches: that is another dimension. Why is it so?
I think some people (not all) have feelings of embarrassment around retirement. I am not surprised. Our culture depreciates retirement while expecting men in particular to work for the benefit of family and society.
In other words retirement gets a bad rap and it goes like this: if you are retired you are useless and not a contributor to society.
THIS IS FALSE.
Postwork is an enormous opportunity to contribute to self-development, family and society through charity work, mentoring, grandparenting etc. It’s a chance to replace embarrassment with pride, uncertainty with routine, insecurity with activity. At the very least it’s a chance to rethink your life.
If you aren’t sure what all this means perhaps a retirement coach could be helpful. What is the risk in trying?
Also if you would like to appear on my podcast About You, let me know.
Retirement: You won’t know what it is like until you get there.