It is time to retire retirement?

Last week in DC, I was fortunate to be surrounded by one of the most heart-centered, energized communities I know – CADRE DC, LLC – for the launch of Let's Retire Retirement, written by Derek Coburn in collaboration with Sara Stibitz.

This book challenges us to rethink everything we’ve been taught about fulfillment, success, and the when of joy.

Most of us have quietly internalized a belief that we need to earn our right to fully live. That we defer joy, purpose, and contribution until some far-off milestone. “One day, when I retire, I'll...” In pursuit of this goal, we often compromise our health, postpone meaningful experiences, and miss precious moments with family and friends.

But what if that whole model is broken?

Let's Retire Retirement invites us to stop postponing the things that will truly fulfill us. To question the default path. To embrace a more vibrant, expansive, now-focused vision of what a meaningful life looks like - while still having a rich and meaningful career that doesn't end when we reach an arbitrary "magic number".

Derek, who has spent three decades as a financial advisor, doesn’t just talk the talk; he lives it - from the “Have More Fun” ethos he embodies to the way he and Melanie Coburn have infused this launch and surrounding events with joy, connection, and deep intention. The electric fireside chat between Derek and Daniel Pink (an incredible author and moderator) was an inspiring masterclass in creating a life that feels both alive and accomplished.