The prospect of retirement can be exhilarating. With fewer responsibilities and more control of our time, we may envision long days of leisure and pleasure.

For many of us, however, that novelty all too soon wears thin. We may feel unmoored without a deep sense of purpose or lonely without compelling social engagement. We may crave opportunities to share our talents and skills, to offer what we know and believe to those who follow. Financial resources and good health are very important to a rewarding retirement, but perhaps even more important is a ‘growth mindset’ that ensures we flourish in this stage of life—in ways we might not even anticipate.

An effective coach starts from the assumption that the client is creative, resourceful and whole and asks powerful questions that open up fresh ways of thinking and bright new possibilities. As the writer Antoine de Saint Exupéry observed, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

My name is Jean Sheppard, and I’d like to be that coach for you. My training and experience have equipped me with the skills to help my clients embrace the opportunities offered by this unique period of their lives.

We’ll start from where you are and figure out, through stimulating and conversations, where you want to go and how to get there.

Here are some questions we might be asking ...