My new book, Reinvention: Meaningful Ventures in Later Life, features the journeys of 30 remarkable and creative individuals. Their stories illuminate the act of reinvention and illustrate the five foundations — meaning, drive, courage, excellence, and identity. 

The search for a job that matters, an avocation with purpose, or meaning in one’s retirement years is at the heart of reinvention. Some people change careers primarily with finances in mind, but most who reinvent themselves seek much more than money.

Not everyone can reinvent themselves. There are many who appropriately spend their retirement years traveling, gardening, reading, and playing with grandchildren. Yet for those who ask, “Is this all there is?” and who have sufficient drive, resilience, self-reliance, and initiative, creating another act in their life is an option.

It is not always easy. There are many risks, especially for ventures seeking societal change. There will likely be fears of failure, of financial disaster, of looking stupid, of being unable to do what is needed. We have seen examples of individuals facing the risks, overcoming their fears, and exhibiting courage through action.

As with any activity in life — schooling, work, or hobbies — the highest satisfaction and the greatest rewards are enabled by excellence. Essential for achieving excellence is to have passion for the task, a vision of a goal, self-discipline, a rigorous commitment to quality, and a commitment to continual improvement.

Identity is at the heart of reinvention. You must look inside yourself and ask “Who am I? What are my strengths? What do I really want?” You may then find clues about your desired identity — who you want to be. A key aspect of your identity is the extent to which you want to leave a legacy to survive after you are gone.