Retirement On The Horizon: Is There An Encore In Your Future?
By NANCY KAILAS
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
[May 6, 2026] – For many [if not most] long-tenured, accomplished professionals, the anticipation of Retirement Day can feel like a “brass ring moment”. No more early wake up calls, no sitting in rush hour traffic, no late night urgent emails. Your schedule is finally your own and you are the only one you now answer to. Sounds blissful, right? Well …
In reality, research shows there may be a bit of tarnish on what seems from here to be a bright, shiny object.
In her perfectly titled book Encore — A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement [Amazon, 2025], retired corporate attorney and Board Certified Coach Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons writes in depth about what many retired people experience but few understand. The premise of the read is that, after spending so many decades going zero-to-60 in a nanosecond to advance your career, suddenly going 60-to-zero is quite an adjustment … and can lead to some serious life problems. Some have said retirement is almost as successful as jail time!
In American business culture, a large number of people tie much of their sense of worth to job performance and professional accomplishments. As a result, it’s not uncommon for a suddenly idle person to overeat, drink too much, and feel essentially invisible which can lead to depression [even suicide in extreme cases] due to a loss of structure and identity.
Downshifting …
Parsons puts forth the notion that those approaching their “Golden Years,” or those who’ve been downsized into early retirement in their 50s, who don’t have set plans to travel, pursue hobbies, spend time with grandchildren, do volunteer and community service work, or take part in other non-workplace activities, often return to some form of work to fill the void. People may joke about becoming a Walmart greeter but …
There might be a better way [hold that thought]. After all, you’re the owner of an amazing array of experiences and a depth of business knowledge and understanding that took years to cultivate.
Parsons believes retirement should not be a date on a calendar, rather a gradual downshifting until finding the right and perfect gear that allows you to cruise into the next phase of your life … on your terms. She says retirement should be redefined as a new beginning, not an ending; a gateway to fresh opportunities and experiences, as well as a richer, more meaningful life in which your background guides you into your wide open future.
But like all worthwhile endeavors, retirement is not an overnight decision. Among the steps involved in gracefully stepping into retirement or semi-retirement are:
Conducting “Identity Bridging” Recognizing and carrying forward positive aspects of your work career and melding them with current personal values, strengths and relationships for a broader sense of self.
Redefining Purpose, Meaning and Success Shifting from quantitative measures of success [sales quotas, growth targets, etc.] to qualitative measures of fulfillment [i.e., impact, joy, growth, a sense of connectedness, etc.]
Looking Beyond Dollars and Cents Financial realities are a huge consideration but you should also work through key emotional, social and psychological aspects of retirement. This involves “strategic instability” to ensure you continue to stretch and grow as a retired person or semi-retired person.
Swapping Human Doing for Human Being After decades of output, productivity and results, it’s time to experience life more fully and explore where rest, reflection, presence and meaning fit into the new equation.
Designing Your New Life You must plan intentionally versus drifting rudderless into retirement, deciding what fits your definition of happiness and fulfillment. This includes the appropriate amount of structure and time demands as you decide how you want your weeks and months ahead to feel and flow. This is an ongoing process, not a one-time decision.
There are many, many more valuable insights and suggestions in the book’s 252 pages and if you’re experiencing even a modicum of uneasiness as you approach retirement, settle into retirement, wanting to work at a less frenetic pace, or make a mid-career switch to something altogether new and energizing, Encore is certainly worth reading. Which brings me to my point.
Earlier, I said “there might be a better way”. If flipping a switch from full time work to full, laid-back retirement feels too sudden or abrupt [and the Walmart greeter option isn’t alluring], you should probably give some serious consideration to serving as a paid consultant to those who can benefit from your knowledge, expertise and wisdom. Doing so does not mean you cede the ability to chart your own course, it means you have the best of both worlds – exiting the demanding, day-to-day grind while still being able to manage your own workload and make a difference.
A Formula that Fits
Excelerant Consulting was founded on this premise. We are a consortium of highly skilled healthcare industry professionals with decades of experience who enjoy freedom and flexibility while making a positive impact on the world.
Our Partners and Consultants have extensive backgrounds in medical device, each bringing their own unique skill sets, insights and expertise. Together, we’re able to deliver comprehensive support to med device and healthcare service companies seeking to commercialize.
While our core service is helping medtech companies secure Group Purchasing Organization [GPO] and Integrated Delivery Network [IDN] contracts, we are also experts in pre-market support such as market assessment, value messaging and go-to-market strategy. More specifically, we collaborate with clients to identify and leverage their unique value proposition, fine-tune product positioning, navigate the extraordinarily complex process of corporate contracting, and provide sales support to enhance growth. Combined, these services help accelerate product adoption.
At this point in your life, if you have the desire to use your knowledge and experience to help worthy innovations reach providers and benefit the patients who need them, without the pressure of working a high-stress, overly demanding job, we should probably chat because Excelerant is expanding. Our Partners and Consultants enjoy flexible, remote work with minimal travel and unlimited earning potential.
If this type of career encore sounds exciting and meaningful, we’d like to hear from you. Send us a message at info@excelerantconsulting.com or check out our consultant description here.
ABOUT NANCY KAILAS
Nancy is a 30-year veteran of the healthcare industry and has held leadership positions in business development, marketing, national accounts, and consulting. With a keen business acumen, she creates a competitive advantage and empowers sales forces by fostering customer intimacy. She excels at securing large contracts and driving measurable results in Group Purchasing Organizations [GPO], Regional Purchasing Coalitions [RPC], Integrated Delivery Networks [IDN], and government market sectors.
Nancy co-founded Excelerant Consulting with Frank Ripullo, pairing Frank’s visionary talents with her pragmatic, results-based approach to strategy. Like Frank, she has an extensive consulting background. Together, they develop innovative solutions that produce results for a wide array of clients across the healthcare spectrum.
ABOUT EXCELERANT CONSULTING
Excelerant Consulting is the go-to organization for med-tech companies that need to position products and services successfully for Value Analysis Committees [VAC], contract acquisition, and sales modeling and execution to commercialize the launch of medical devices or services with Group Purchasing Organizations [GPO], Integrated Delivery Networks [IDN], or Regional Purchasing Coalitions [RPC]. Our clients rely on us to identify their value proposition, enhance product positioning, navigate corporate contracting opportunities, and provide sales support to accelerate growth.
For more info, contact Excelerant Consulting at info@excelerantconsulting.com