The day after one client ‘retired’ he took all his business suits to the charity shop. For him they were a uniform and this marked a clear ‘transition’ – the end of his ‘first career’ and a first step forward to what comes next.

Another took over a decade to discard the last business suit – for him this slow evolution was peppered with consultancy work and other activities that required ‘formal business attire’.

There is no right or wrong – both clients finished their ‘first careers’ (characterised by mortgages and families) and moved on, doing so in their own unique way.

It’s important to recognise that life is a journey, and while it’s difficult to change the direction of travel, we still a lot of say in how we get there!