By Dave Smith, The Ultimate Retirement Coach
For most of your adult life, you worked for the man.
A boss.
A company.
A system that defined success, set expectations, and told you where to be and when to be there.
And now, retirement is here—or right around the corner.
This is the moment many people underestimate. Because retirement isn’t just a financial transition. It’s a mental and identity shift.
The real work of retirement begins when you can confidently say:
“I am the man.”
Let’s start with the truth.
Working for the man wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t wasted time. It was the training ground.
Your career gave you:
Financial security
Discipline
Skills and experience
A nest egg that makes retirement possible
You followed rules, met expectations, and built something real.
But here’s the shift few people talk about:
The structure that helped you succeed in your career can quietly limit you in retirement.
There’s no boss now.
No performance review.
No defined path.
And that’s exactly why retirement feels unsettling for some.
Becoming the man means you take full ownership:
Of your time
Of your priorities
Of what “success” looks like now
Retirement isn’t about doing nothing.
It’s about doing what matters—by your definition.
Say it slowly:
“I am the man.”
Now ask yourself:
What does that actually mean in your life?
Does it mean:
Freedom over your schedule?
Strong health and physical capability?
Being present with family without distraction?
Creating, building, or learning something new?
Giving back through mentoring or service?
Living with peace instead of pressure?
Most people spend decades living inside someone else’s definition of success. Then they retire—without ever defining their own.
Becoming the man isn’t about power or ego.
It’s about intentional living.
If you don’t define what “I am the man” means, your retirement will default to habits, distractions, and drift.
Clarity is not optional. It’s leadership.
Here’s one simple, powerful action you can take this week:
Set aside 15 quiet minutes.
No phone.
No interruptions.
Write this sentence at the top of a page:
“I am the man because I choose to…”
Then finish it—honestly.
You might write:
“…protect my health and energy.”
“…spend my time intentionally.”
“…live by my values, not my calendar.”
“…invest in relationships that matter.”
“…create a legacy, not just memories.”
This isn’t for anyone else.
You don’t need to perfect it.
Just write it.
Then read it each morning for the next seven days.
Let your decisions start aligning with your definition.
Clarity follows action—not the other way around.
You already proved you could work for the man.
You showed up.
You provided.
You built security.
Now comes the most important role of your life:
Becoming the man—on your terms.
Retirement isn’t an ending.
It’s a leadership promotion.
And the first step is being able to say—with confidence and clarity:
“I am the man.”
If you’d like help defining that next chapter with purpose, confidence, and direction, that’s exactly what I do as The Ultimate Retirement Coach. Visit www.leapretirement.com and use the free tools to build your plan.
Your career is complete.
Your ownership of life is just beginning.