Sometimes the most powerful transformations begin with a simple prefix.

In career coaching, I’ve discovered that the two letters “RE-” hold extraordinary potential for people navigating professional transitions, especially those who are maturing, retiring, or facing unexpected career crossroads.

The beauty of “RE-” is that it acknowledges your journey isn’t about starting from scratch—it’s about building upon the foundation you’ve already created.

Reinvention doesn’t mean abandoning your expertise. It means reimagining how to apply decades of wisdom in fresh ways. The corporate executive becomes a strategic consultant. The teacher transforms into an educational content creator.

Reset offers permission to pause, recalibrate your priorities, and clear the slate when you feel overwhelmed or stuck. Sometimes we need to step back to move forward with clarity.

Redirect recognizes that career pivots aren’t failures—they’re strategic moves. Your skills remain valuable; you’re simply channeling them toward new opportunities that align with your current life stage.

Rejuvenate counters the narrative that aging means declining relevance. Instead, it suggests you can bring renewed energy and perspective to work that truly matters to you.

Rebuild speaks powerfully to those facing unexpected transitions—layoffs, forced retirement, or major life changes. You’re not starting over; you’re rebuilding using the strong foundation of your experience.

Reclaim helps you recover authentic parts of your professional identity that may have been buried under decades of role expectations. Maybe it’s time to reclaim your natural creativity, leadership style, or collaborative spirit.

Reframe might be the most powerful tool of all—shifting your narrative from limitation to possibility. “I’m too old to change” becomes “I have wisdom to bring to new opportunities.”

Reconnect addresses the isolation many feel during transitions. Reconnect with dormant professional relationships, former colleagues, and most importantly, reconnect with your own sense of what’s possible.

Refresh and Renew remind us that growth often involves updating what we already have rather than a complete overhaul—refreshing skills, renewing networks, or simply shifting perspective.

This “RE-” framework is particularly meaningful for those who aren’t ready to stop working or creating, regardless of traditional retirement expectations. It validates that your Next Act isn’t an ending—it’s a strategic evolution and empowering personal choice.

The most successful career transformations happen when we honor where we’ve been while boldly reimagining where we’re going. The prefix “RE-” gives us the freedom and innovation to do exactly that.

Thanks – Michael (he, him)

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This also matters – Sagebbatical.

#2060