Welcome to the X.

In Part 1, I introduced Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s a model of human motivation that begins with physiological needs (food, water, warmth, rest) and progresses to safety needs (security, stability). Next, it evolves to belongingness and love needs (intimate relationships, friendships). It’s then followed…

As a Financial Life Planner, the work of Abraham Maslow played a very important role in shaping my approach. His model, the Hierarchy of Needs, illustrates a pyramid of human needs that evolve as we mature and as our circumstances provide greater stability and financial…

Life after a career can feel like a black hole of not knowing. Leaving the comfort of your everyday work life is a leap of faith. After all, you’ve been doing the same thing for decades, and what lies beyond is a mixed bag of…

This morning, I sat in the awakening dawn, coffee cup in hand. The only sound was the ticking of a battery-operated clock. It reminded me that I have no time to waste on: activities that don’t bring me joy beliefs that hold me in place…

That question—when is enough, enough?—was a prevalent question during my years as a financial life planner. I mean, how do you quantify enough when faced with a society that worships more and more? The conversations always circled back to the issue of one’s values. Enough…

I admit that sometimes, when entering social situations (especially with retired men) I feel a tinge of dread.  I already know generally what I’m going to hear: a cacophony of stories from their workdays, filled with victories, successes, and experiences that reinforce their lofty positions…

It always surprises me when I see drivers accelerating toward a red light in the near distance. They speed past me mindlessly toward the impending stop, only to slam on the brakes at the last moment. I shake my head in wonder: “What are you…

It’s easy to feel like you’ve lost your importance in the world when your work life ends. After all, the workplace is where we devote the bulk of our time and where we find authority, mastery, and (hopefully) ego gratification. But in Chapter X, we…