A New York Times reader asked:

I’m a 55-year-old male. I recently sold my business, which was very profitable. Financially, I am pretty well set. But while the idea of an early retirement was always appealing, I’m finding that I am bored out of my mind. I miss the activity and satisfaction that came from building and running a company.

I don’t feel I can talk to any of my friends about this, as they are hard at work and can’t really identify with my boredom. I feel I am too old to go back into the work force, which seems so focused on millennials. Moreover, I have enjoyed 25-plus years plus of calling my own shots, so I wonder about reporting to someone else.

Is this just something I need to get over and enjoy the fruits of my labor? Or should I try to re-enter the work force in some limited capacity?

One of the consequences of the emergence of physician entrepreneurs is that some will find themselves in a similar circumstance. Most would find this an enviable place to be. Many of you reading this will relate.

Traditionally, workers have spent most of their adult lives employed, and either building up pensions or, in more recent decades, stashing money away in retirement accounts. Then at some point in their 60s, they leave their jobs and spend the rest of their years retired.

Today’s workers, though, have a different idea of what their retirements will look like. A whopping 92% of workers currently in their 40s say they plan to keep working part-time in retirement, according to a survey by TD Ameritrade and The Harris Poll. Even among those in their 70s, 52% say they plan to continue working an average of 10 hours a week.

Additionally, many workers say they don’t plan to ever fully retire. Among those in their 40s, 61% of respondents said they’d prefer to take year-long “mini-retirement breaks” while they’re younger, and then work until a later age, rather than work continuously for four decades or more and then retire completely.

So, what to do?

1. Monetize your network
2. Get a side gig
3. Be a mentor, coach, sponsor or advisor
4. Start another company
5. Volunteer to solve a wicked problem

1. Take care of the uninsured
2. Start your own non-profit
3. Start an medically unrelated encore career
4. Write
5. Teach biomedical and clinical entrepreneurship
6. All of the above
7. Get a hobby and do it with someone
8. Be a philanthropreneur
9. Be a digital nomad
10. Become a Fulbright Scholar

Here is how to navigate the 4 career crises .

For many at this stage, mission is more important than money, although your innerpreneur knows there is nothing wrong with doing well by doing good. Do it by rewiring, not retiring.

Good luck with your next chapter.

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