Cultural expectations surrounding the elderly are being challenged today, and with good reason!
While it was the norm to slow down and retreat into a quieter life post-retirement, more men and women are finding purpose and joy in doing the opposite.
WisdomCircle honours such men and women by shining light on their journey through an inspiring series called “Wisdom Stories”. These people have successfully smashed stereotypes, and their stories remind us that life should be lived to the fullest, no matter what age or stage.
I started my career in Standard Chartered Bank, before moving to ABN Amro (taken over by Royal Bank of Scotland). This was followed by a stint at Dresdner Bank AG, India as their CEO designate. I went on to establish FAB Advisors, my own venture, which focussed on sales and relationship management skilling for financial services companies. Thereafter I spent 10 years with Max Group (Life insurance particularly) in various roles, leading areas like products, marketing, communication and distribution.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with teams, to motivate them and bring out their best, all through my career. Some advice I took to heart early was to not take myself too seriously. Perfection is an illusion. Be patient with yourself and stay focused on inputs. At worst you will learn, at best you will win. I would tell my younger self to stay in the flow and be positive. A lot of our anxieties are in our heads.
Skills that were key to my success were my team-building abilities and having a growth mindset. I try to listen versus speak in the same proportion as my mouth and my ears, but it is a work in progress!
Moving into my second innings and trying to define it has been both rewarding and daunting. There was a process of discovery where I asked myself – What am I willing to give my time to without a thought of return? That is my purpose. I continue to be relevant by creating and contributing to a platform that helps train sales teams in the financial services sector.
Your second innings is your real innings. Replace Retiring with Rewiring and focus on giving. Your activities define you, so choose wisely. I feel restless if I don’t move the needle forward every day.
Aalok Bhan
Photo and Interview Credits: Saonli Sen Choudhury of WisdomCircle
Read more stories of inspirational seniors embarking on new journeys in their golden years on WisdomCircle.
