retire2serve Podcast

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Probably the most often used career interest tool is the Self-Directed Search developed by Holland. You probably took one in high school or college. In working with career change clients, I find that most people remember taking it, but often didn't learn much about themselves in the process because they only looked at the specific careers it pointed to rather than what it tells you about what kinds of things you like and don't like. I think the real value of the tool is what it tells you about yourself -- and how that can guide you into finding a career that is satisfying and fulfilling. It can do the same thing for someone choosing an area of service or ministry. The research behind the tool indicates that each of us identify most strongly with three of the six "types." Click here to find a short description of the types. You can take the Self-Directed Search online at a cost of $10. You can get the same result by doing the Party Exercise in What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles. In fact, you may be able to learn just as much by studying the six type descriptions on the previous link and choosing which are most like you. The point is, if you prefer working alone on rather analytical things, you will be most effective and fulfilled serving in areas requiring primarily that type of work. Conversely, if you prefer large groups working together on creative ventures, you will be most effective serving in areas that have that environment. Part of the glory of how God made us is that he made each of us different. He gave us different likes and dislikes, different skills and abilities, and different experiences for a purpose. That is so that there are people equipped to do everything that God would like to see done in his Kingdom. What kinds of service has God equipped you for? What you like gives you great insight! To learn more about how Christian life coaching might help you prepare for and plan your retirement, visit Mapmaker Coaching.

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach All of us have transferable skills. Transferable skills are not about expertise, knowledge, or experience. Transferable skills are the basic ways that we get whatever we have to do done. We each have favorite transferable skills -- our favorite ways to get things done. That's part of the special way God made us. You can determine what your favorite skills are by writing stories about a problem or goal that you faced. The story should tell what the goal was, what the obstacles were, then step by step very specifically what you did, and finally what the result was. You should pick times when you really enjoyed what you did and were pleased with the results. For a detailed description of how to write and process the stories, and for a list of the physical, information, and people skills, see this link on my "Making Career Changes" blog. While you're there, you might find other posts that are helpful as well.

My Odeo Channel (Code: 59d48f445c72983c) -- Show Notes: Vocation: What God Has Given You to Do Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Transcript of this show.

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Statement from Dave Phillip's wife as he was preparing to retire in 1994: "I'm not going to live with you unless you know where you're going to go on September 1." The rest of the story is that they went on to co-found Cincinnati Works. We all deserve to have someone ask us that question: What are you going to do with your retirement -- and I want specifics! If you can't answer this question with specifics, then now's the time to get busy developing your plan!

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Link to Gordon McDonald's article "Leader's Insight: A Halftime Calling for Ordinary Folks" What does one do with the gift of all those extra years? Halftime may not be for everyone -- aimed at people who want to be social entrepreneurs Ordinary folks can serve in many effective roles during retirement

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Your Ideal (Dream) Ministry is defined as a ministry where: You use your favorite skill In a ministry defined by your favorite interests In an organization having your favorite people environments Serving your favorite ministry values With your favorite working conditions With appropriate salary and level of responsibility In your favorite geography. This definition is a straightforward adaptation from the one Richard Bolles gives as the definition of your ideal job in his book, What Color is Your Parachute? Your favorite skills, interests, etc. are important because God made you the way you are for a reason -- to serve his purposes in ways that only you can do. To learn more about yourself and how you're "wired," do the Flower Exercise in Bolles' book -- just apply the results to ministry instead of career. <br>

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Finding opportunities to serve means getting out and networking with people who are tied in to organizations that are serving. One in Houston that I like is "The Get-Together." The ministry I talked about today is part of the City of Refuge church, and here's a link to their community development website.

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach If we spend a little time analyzing how we spend time and money, we'll gain a lot of insight into how well we're living out our values. We may find that we're well aligned -- that we're spending our time and money on those things that are really important to us in our lives. We may find that we're spending our time and money in ways that are not in alignment with our values. If that's the case, the question becomes "Why?" Are the things that we think are our values really values -- or are the things we're spending our time and money on truly what we value? In retirement, we have more control over how we allocate our time. So retirement is a great time to re-evaluate what you're doing with your life. Why not intentionally structure your retirement to be well aligned with your values? Retirement can be about living your dream. My challenge to you today is to spend some time analyzing how you spend your time and money. Does it align with your true values? What could you begin to do to bring your use of time and money into better alignment with your deepest held values?

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Sign in the mall: "Because where you live defines who you are." Our culture is dominated by consumerism. Advertising and marketing are doing their best to define the sources of our self esteem -- from cars to clothes to pots and pans. Is it true that where you live defines who you are? When I say I live in Houston, do you immediately think of a stereotypical Texan? Don't we often judge people by where they live? The real truth is that no house, no car, and no clothes can make any one of us better than we are. Buying things does not define who we are. God defines who we are. And our allegiance to God -- or our allegiance to idols of this world. May we be known as God's children -- may that define who we are.

Show Notes: Expected average lifespan: 77.5 years. Calculator to predict how long you will live. Questions to Consider What will I do to make good use of this time? What could I do that will make a difference in God's kingdom and in the world? What great service lies ahead of me? What has my life experience prepared me to do?

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach 1. Mentoring a child in a school is an example of a good volunteer effort. It provides a sense of purpose and the opportunity for collaboration with others -- meeting a retiree's needs for replacing work functions. It is also a tremendous service to children, families, and society. 2. There is a significant barrier in the minds of many to becoming a mentor -- or to taking on any volunteer assignment. We need to develop effective ways to help people who would benefit overcome these barriers. To find information about mentoring in general, and mentoring opportunities in your area, click here.

Show Notes: Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Only recent English translations will use the word retirement, because the concept wasn't invented until 1885. From New Living Translation: Numbers 8:23-26: "The LORD also instructed Moses, 'This is the rule the Levites must follow: they must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by performing guard duty at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you will assign duties to the Levites.'" That's the only place in the Bible you'll find the word retirement. We learn from the Bible that all other servants of God continued serving throughout life. John the Apostle was serving and writing into his 90's. Moses didn't even start his most important work until age 80, and continued until he died at age 120. Jesus' call to us is to take up his yoke -- to join him in his work. It would go against every example in the Bible to suggest that we should slip off the yoke -- retire from working with him. In fact, the modern invention of retirement actually provides the opportunity to do just the opposite -- to significantly increase our workload in doing kingdom business.

Show Notes Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Most churches and nonprofits offer retirees volunteer tasks -- but most often they are menial tasks. Such volunteer roles do not meet the need of retirees for gaining a sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction from working with others on something that matters. Suggestions for church leaders: Develop a list of significant ministries that need leadership and manpower. Be ready to help retirees get started and to help them recruit others to work with. Suggestions for retirees: Be prepared to invent your own ministry. Dream big. Plan and build it like you would with a small business. Be prepared to recruit others to work with you. Expect little physical support from the church staff -- they probably don't have it to offer.

Show Notes Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach Retirement can result in a huge blow to your self esteem. Major sources of self esteem Accomplishments (Doing) Other People The American ice-breaker: "What do you do?" "What I really miss since I've retired is the people I worked with -- and getting to work with them on something that made a difference." Things to consider: 1. Our self-esteem should increasingly be drawn from who we are. We are "human beings," not "human doers." You are a child of God. You are a son or daughter, a spouse, a parent, and a friend. 2. We need to replace the functions of work when we retire. Things to do that give us the feeling of accomplishment. People to work with on something that makes a difference. A link to an article on depression in older adults.

Show Notes Host: Jim Hughes Why will you work? Keep Mentally Active: 67% Keep Physically Active: 57% Keep Connected with others: 48% Health Insurance Benefits: 45% The Money: 37% (Merrill Lynch New Retirement Survey, Dec. 2004) Link to the Merrill Lynch New Retirement Information