Retirement: Different by Design: Six Building Blocks Fundamentally Changing How Life After Work is Viewed, Planned For, and Lived

by Rick Steiner

Plan for retirement with confidence and ease, using this essential guide for envisioning and creating a post-work life filled with meaning and purpose   Retirement is more than the absence of work—it’s a different way of life requiring new vision, new purpose, and new life perspectives. You see, retirement is too important to leave to luck or circumstance; we have to plan and make them happen—our way.   Your bridge to the “other side of work,” Different By Design presents two dynamic and innovative templates for moving seamlessly into retirement and beyond—“Retirement’s Ages and Stages” and “Retirement’s Six Fundamental Building Blocks.” Providing practical strategies and answers, not more questions, each chapter delivers insights, tools, narratives, and models for making retirement the best years of the rest of our lives. And, it’s not always about the money.   Indeed, we all can live socially rich, emotionally balanced, intellectually nourishing, healthful, and physically active retirements no matter the size of our bank accounts—this is the new retirement reality that Different By Design offers the soon-to-be and the already retired.   RETIREMENT’S SIX FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCKS   • Physical and Emotional Health and Well-Being • Financial Security and Continuity • Life Transition and Acceptance • Intergenerational Life Engagement • Intellectual and Physical Pursuits, Interests, and Activities • Spirituality, Meaning, Family, and Legacy   “Any book on retirement planning that does not begin with a discussion of money is off to a good start, at least to our thinking. And so it is with Different by Design.” —The Wall Street Journal

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2015

About the author

I am a recovering "workaholic"--that's "workaholic", not "alcoholic. Earning my Ph.D. in Mass Communications Research and Social Psychology from Syracuse University's Newhouse School during a time of turmoil and social unrest known to us Boomers as the 60's and 70's I walked the streets of our nation's most impoverished neighborhoods and joined the War on Poverty, but Poverty won. Moving on to the State University of New York and a combined 42 year career I became a recognized management and organizational development consultant, a professor, System Vice Provost and University Vice President. I have been invited to the Whitehouse and sent to the Doghouse. My team and I were awarded more than $600 million dollars from government and foundations to make our communities, country and nations around the world better custodians of their peoples' futures. I am now happily retired and doing what I "want" to do, not what others "tell me to do." That is writing, consulting and speaking, hurtling down snow covered mountains as a full time ski instructor, sailing the clear waters of Lake Champlain, riding my bicycle; and, always, always seeking my next adventure, but most of all enjoying the ride wherever it takes me.

Reviews

[Todd Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that there were some very relevant messages within the book , many of which resonated with me after having retired 2 1\2 yeras ago at 57. I did however find it a tedious read at times as it's wordy and repetative in many ways. I would like to have seen the messaging delivered in a more direct manner.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everytime I look in the mirror...
Wow, I just finished this enlightening book, Retirement: Different by Design: Six Building Blocks Fundamentally Changing How Life After Work is Viewed, Planned For, and Lived. This long titled book pleasantly surprised and educated me. Let me explain just as this intelligent author has identified, most books about retirement are boring, long-winded lectures about saving, investing, planning, and other financial stuff. All of which is important for the future but doesn't address the elephant in the room, the new and scary emotions that we experience from the drastic changes to our "regular" routine. Currently fifty-three years old, I have never actually considered the fast approaching time; when I will be faced with the feeling of aloneness, boredom, abandonment, and how I will react to the harsh and scary realities of retirement. Many of same feelings that I experienced when I became unemployed for an extended period. The author's funny and lighthearted writing style that kept me laughing as I learned about this subject which for many like me, goes unaddressed. Several points were repeated driving the message of their importance home for me. Thank you for sharing the optimistic, Three Powers that are granted to every retiree. I have a whole new positive perspective on what to expect and that it is natural. At first glance, I thought that this book was for retirees only. Oh, man was I wrong! This little navigation manual applies to all ages and economic backgrounds. A must read for all who are seeking reassurance and guidance on an emotional, sometimes scary retirement. The cover art beautifully illustrates the topic and mood of this book. Pace and flow are maintained through good editing.

[Jeff Keehr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a sober look at life in retirement. The author warns that there is a big transition between your working life and your non-working life. Like most people, I have always concentrated on the financial aspects of retirement. How can I afford it? That problem can never be solved conclusively because we never know what disasters await us. But I feel fairly confident that I have done all I can do to prepare financially. So now it is a matter of preparing psychologically and that is where this book does most of its work. The author appears to have found himself in the same dark wood that Dante refers to. And it took him some work to find his way out. So he levels a reasonable warning at his readers: find something to do with the rest of your life, after work. He recommends everything from travel to volunteer work and everything in between. Of course, he reminds us that unless we have taken care of our health, retirement will be a trial. Health comes first, then relationships, then trying new things, and so on. I don't really buy into his pyramid metaphor. In the end, the book is avuncular. And who doesn't need a good talking to from a helpful uncle?

[Linda Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this to know the author's unbiased opinion on how to prepare and look forward to retirement.
He explained how retirement will be totally different and how and what to do about these changes.

[Lilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too rambling and lots of boomer references (if you’re a gen x like me).

[A.g.]

Quite a few good pointers, worth reading.

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book about design your retirement. There were numerous ideas that I will use in planning and living my retirement.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

About 25% in and so far it seems to say - make a plan and think about what you want to do with your time before you retire or you will be depressed by the lack of structure and human interaction.

I have finished this book now. The author made a retirement pyramid (like the food pyramid or Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The base is health - there is no way to enjoy retirement from a hospital bed. The next tier is money and he has a chapter with the same basic advice as you see everywhere. I did like his categories to evaluate and the 2 column method (what I am spending and earning now while still working and what I expect to spend and earn in retirement).

His higher building blocks are more about life quality - Life transition and acceptance, Inter generational life engagement, Intellectual and physical pursuits, Spirituality meaning, family, legacy (with capital letters marking the transitions). All of these were variations on the theme - don't just sit at your house and play on the computer. Travel, volunteer, be active (hike, bike, canoe), travel, take classes, play with grandchildren. Make a bucket list. For me these all kind of blurred together.

The very end of the book to me was the most valuable part. He included a set of 8 - 10 questions and homework. Assuming you have a spouse - each person is to take the list and write out answers individually. He estimated 2 hours. Then get back together and discuss the answers. He covered everything from fears to how much time do you forsee spending together to what does your average day look like.