I think there’s a very big difference between the pleasure from an activity and the sense of achievement. So, what is rewarding after 70 for me comes most closely to understanding what will feel like success? What will feel like achievement?

As you think about your work after 70, where will you get that sense of achievement?

For some people that sense of achievement is still financial recognition and being financially rewarded will be an important part of that sense of achievement.

I spent some time coaching a guy who had been a salesman, selling printing equipment into his late seventies. And as he approached 80, he was thinking “what can I do now?” What was absolutely clear was, although he needed some income, the thing that most rewarded him was doing the deal. The deal gave him some income. But getting the deal done gave him that sense of achievement.

What gives you a sense of achievement?

For me, I think increasingly my sense of achievement comes from believing that I’ve helped some others to achieve. There are also things that I want to achieve in my own right that don’t depend on the success of others. Whether it is writing a book, launching a new business offer, fundraising for a charity, completing a project: success will give me a sense of achievement.

I recommend you go back and look at the last 20 years and find the highlights where you felt the stronger sense of achievement or felt the most personal reward. It could be that the most rewarding thing for you is from the appreciation of others. It may be the knowledge that you’ve done the right thing or that you’ve righted some wrong and pursued justice. Perhaps the opportunity to offer care to others is important to you.

In a season of your life where your time is more precious than ever and your capacity to do things may be limited in terms of the number of hours a day or the energy you’ve got, understanding what is rewarding is a critical criterion for picking what you are going to do so that you enjoy your work after 70.

Going Down the Drain

Sadly, I have met some people who are still working after 70 and the work they are doing is just a drain. They never get appreciated. They never feel the job is done. It is just an endless drain. I ask them why they’re still doing it and they can’t really give me an answer. I have to consider whether they’re addicted to this particular way of being and they can’t find another. There is something in the cycle of behaviour that they have entered into that has rewards that are beyond anything they can articulate and anything that might feel rational to an outsider observer.

Clearing out the Blockages

Perhaps there are some things that you’re just doing because you’ve always done them.

Look carefully at those activities and be prepared to do a clear out. Is there an organization that you’ve been working for whom you’ve really done what needs to be done for them and its now time to let go and move on? Are you in a situation where there’s nothing more you can learn from working in a particular role? Is it time to let go and move on? Has an organization that you’ve been loyal to for an extended period of time changed beyond recognition and so it is no longer giving you the sense of achievement and appreciation that you used to have? Perhaps you fundamentally disagree with the way it’s being run.

As you review your activities, I suggest using a very simple plus /minus scoring system.

If you feel that this is an activity that is continuing to be rewarding and gives you a strong sense of achievement or appreciation, is an important part of keeping you lively and enjoying life. Then give it a rating from one to three where three is the most rewarding. If on the other hand, on balance the experience is negative, you’re under appreciated, you no longer believe in what they’re doing or there is no sense of achievement and you’re just doing it because you haven’t yet stopped doing it give it a negative score. Is it minus one, minus two or minus three? And then start to see how, by letting go of the negative, or the stuff, which is not so positive, you can create space in your life for new things that are more rewarding or to do more of the things that you’re already doing, that are most rewarding.

Getting into Flow

In summary, spend some time evaluating the activities you’re currently engaged in and look at how rewarding they are. Then make the choices that will increase the rewards you get so that you can enjoy your work after 70, more than ever before.