Not my old self
Dear Corporate Shrink,
I’m 62 and own a successful business I started thirty years ago. I’m married and have a great wife and successful kids who have careers outside the family business. My problem is I’m not excited about going into work anymore. I’m busy and I’m good at what I do but I don’t have the old fire in the belly I used to have. I have thoughts of selling the business but I don’t know what else I’d do. Any suggestions?
Dear Not my old self,
First, I’m assuming that you have had a recent medical check-up and we can rule out any kind of medical problem and/or the presence of a depressive process. My take on the situation then is that we are dealing with a mild form of career burnout or with the need to deal with that life stage where we begin to look back and assess our accomplishments.
The stage I’m talking about can begin as early as 40 but for many busy executives wrapped up in their successful careers, it often gets delayed till the 50’s or even early 60’s. This self-evaluation includes rating the efforts made to get outside the self and care for others. How good a job have we done nurturing our children or advancing our community? Do we feel we are part of a higher purpose? If we feel we have fallen short and do nothing about it, we begin to stagnate.
I’m not certain that’s what’s going on with you but a core dynamic for owner-founders of family businesses involves the legacy left by the business. It sounds as if your kids are not involved. Can that be a source of disappointment for you as you look ahead to eventual retirement? Can the possibility of their involvement in the business be revisited?
If that’s out of the question then where do you go to derive a feeling of purpose? The answer comes easier the better you know yourself. What do you want to work on? Revitalizing your relationship with your kids, grandkids? How can you remain youthful and creative? How can you pass the wisdom gained through experience? Maybe it’s by training a successor for your position and then remaining attached as a consultant? Or maybe it’s starting a charitable foundation or working with young start-up business owners? Take time to reflect and re-vision the next stage of your life. Once you can see it, you’ll be able to re-dedicate yourself. You will then become your "new" self.