November 20, 2025 • 37 mins
Are you approaching retirement but still feel called to more?
In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson sits down with Beverly Smith, a Faith-Driven Executive Résumé Writer and Job Search Strategist, to break down the myths surrounding retirement and explore what it looks like to finish well before or after retirement.
Together, we talk about:
✨ Why retirement isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning
✨ How to overcome age bias with confidence and clarity
✨ Ways to align work, calling, and God-given purpose in this season
✨ Practical tools for transitioning into meaningful work or service
✨ The importance of volunteering, documenting your impact, and staying engaged
✨ Real stories of believers living passionately in their “best season” of life.
Whether you’re considering part-time work, exploring a new career direction, or simply seeking God’s peace and purpose, this conversation will encourage you to trust the path He’s placing before you.
Quotes from the show:
"I will not sit here and tell you that there are not people that do have an age bias. There are. Those are not the places that you're gonna be working...that's a door God's closed for you. But I think so many people have bought into that lie that they're afraid and they're just like, 'I have to stay stuck until then, and I have to work until 62, 65, 70, whatever that magic number is in this role, and I can't do it any other way.' And I'm just here to tell you that you can (find other work)." Beverly
"I lived my, my whole adult life, you know, checking off all the boxes, but I never really understood what it meant to just surrender and trust Him (God) with everything, including my work." Vona
Scripture:
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19 NLT
Email Beverly: beverly@cssar.com
Connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlydsmith/
Download Beverly's Free Guide: 3 Steps to Reinvent Your Career at Any Age.
Download Vona's Free Finish Well QuickStart guide.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Embracing a New Chapter
00:52 Meet Beverly Smith: Transitioning with Purpose
02:10 Overcoming Age Bias and Finding Fulfillment
04:47 Aligning Your Work with God's Call
08:54 Practical Steps for Career Transition
15:24 The Importance of Volunteering and Documentation
22:02 Redefining Retirement: Finding Joy and Purpose
30:37 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!
Thank you for stopping by today! Remember to Engage Your Faith and Live Your More as you reap the benefits of Courageous Retirement!
To watch the video, check out my YouTube Channel!
Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!
Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.
Join ClubMore!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Are you at or near retirementand feel like there's gotta be
(00:02):
more to life than this, butyou're afraid to go after
anything different because,nobody would possibly want to
hire me or what would I be ableto offer a new business?
There are all kinds of lies thatwe tell ourselves about why
industry would not want someonenear the age of retirement.
I'm here today to tell you thatthat is not true.
(00:22):
There are so many opportunitiesout there for you, and this
episode is going to help answerso many questions and encourage
you to keep going because it'snot over until it's over.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Do you fear?
What lies beyond retirement?
What if it's a gateway to a lifefilled with purpose, meaning,
and adventure rather than anend?
Discover peace and fulfillmentas you boldly enter this new
chapter in CourageousRetirement, a Christian podcast.
I'm your host, author, and coachVona Johnson.
Let's get started.
Vona Johnson (00:52):
I am so excited to have with me today Beverly
Smith, And we are going to havea conversation about how we can
finish well in our careers.
You all know that I love to callthe season of retirement the
best season, and sometimes.
Truly always, we should startthinking about that long before
that day of retirement.
Today we're gonna walk along theideas of if you are
(01:14):
transitioning, whether it's intoa new career as you retire from
your current job, or if you justwanna think about how you can
finish well before you retire,Beverly and I are gonna roll up
our sleeves and find out aboutthat.
So, welcome Beverly to the show.
I'm so excited to have you heretoday.
Beverly Smith (01:31):
So excited about this conversation on
Vona Johnson (01:34):
Oh, I love it.
I love it.
And I love the fact that beforewe hopped on here, you shared
how God has been shifting thingsaround in your life.
And so not only is thissomething that you're talking
about, this is something you'reliving in, in, so to speak.
Mm-hmm.
And ironically, he has me in aplace where some things have
shifted too.
Um, starting another, I.
(01:55):
I don't know that it's a career.
I don't know what he has inmind, but it's, it's kind of
cool how he, he works in ourlives and leads us where he
wants us to be.
So first of all, why don't youtell us, what you're doing and
what that transition looks likefor you?
Sure,
Beverly Smith (02:10):
sure.
So currently I work with people,that are looking to change
change roles.
And we, my team and I help themwith their resumes, with their
job search strategies andLinkedIn branding, those types
of things.
That's kind of the surfacelevel.
(02:30):
Most of the people I tend toattract tend to be over 45, over
50, and very similar to what Iwent through.
They have found themselves at aplace where.
They're either burnt out or theyjust don't feel aligned with the
work that they're doing, and.
(02:51):
Unfortunately, society tends totell us the lies that you're too
old.
And you know what?
I've been, I've been in thestaffing and recruiting business
for 27 years before doing whatI'm doing now.
So I get that.
I will not sit here and tell youthat there are not people that
do have an age bias.
(03:11):
There are, those are not theplaces that you're gonna be
working If they have an agebias, that's a door.
God's closed for you, right.
But I think so many people havebought into that lie that
they're afraid and they're justlike, I have to stay stuck until
then, and I have to work until62, 65, 70, whatever that magic
(03:35):
number is in this role, and Ican't do it any other way.
And I'm just here to tell youthat you can.
Oh,
Vona Johnson (03:43):
I love that message because I just feel that
if we're in a job that we don'tlove, and I, part of my message
is if we're in a job that wedon't love, maybe there's
something that we need to shift.
You know, there are other peoplewho, who have left job after job
after job, and at some pointit's like, hmm, maybe it's me.
(04:04):
Maybe it's my approach, but, butnot all.
And, and I agree.
I particularly, I would thinkpeople in our generation, I
don't know exactly where youare, but we'll, we'll make that
broad, um, have a tendency tofeel like we, you know, we grew
up with, you take a job and youstay in that job for 30 years
(04:26):
and you retire, then you'redone.
And.
At the other end of thespectrum, we see so many people,
young people now that arechanging jobs all the time.
I don't know that either one ofthose is right or wrong, but
it's, it's not a good situationif we're in a work environment
that either isn't healthy for usor that we, we don't love.
(04:47):
I feel that God wants us to findjoy in life and do the work, uh,
that, that brings us joy, so,mm-hmm.
Um, I agree with you.
If, if there, if you're feelingstuck, go find something that
brings you joy.
In fact, courageous retirementis the tagline, is answer God's
call to more.
Mm-hmm.
And if, if you're feeling thatlonging that there's something
(05:08):
more in life, there probably is.
So
Speaker 5 (05:11):
yes.
Vona Johnson (05:12):
So let's explore
Speaker 5 (05:13):
hundred percent.
Vona Johnson (05:13):
Let's explore that a little bit.
For me, I retired almost nineyears ago.
In January it will be nineyears, and for me, I loved my
job.
But there was, I just had thisnagging sense that there was
more, that there was somethingout there that, that I needed to
be doing.
And I went down the path of allkinds of coaching certifications
(05:34):
and things like that.
And the rest of my story is, isthat hasn't been financially
lucrative.
But it has brought me so muchpeace and so much fulfillment,
and I know that I'm, I'mfulfilling each day.
I'm doing what God wants me todo, and I realized that it's no
longer about the money, it'sabout serving where he wants me
(05:54):
to serve.
Have you experienced that aswell?
Beverly Smith (05:57):
Absolutely.
And, and, and just kind ofstarting from the back end of
that.
That, that statement there, Ithink so many of us are driven
about the financial impact, andI know I was, I mean, we had a
very successful business, but itburned us out.
It was very hard and it, I, Ijust had it in my head that it
(06:20):
had to finish a certain way.
There's a little box and this isthe only way you can get outta
your business and you've gottasell it and you've gotta do this
and you've gotta do that.
And.
In hindsight, what I realizedis, and one of my favorite
scriptures is Philippians 4:19,is he will a supply all my needs
(06:44):
according to his glorious, richriches in Christ Jesus.
And I wasn't living that.
I, I'm like, I could quote it,you know, and I could say all
that.
I could say all the good stuff.
I felt like I had to strive andI had to do what I need to do to
make the ends meet, and I justwas not trusting his provision
and trusting what it would looklike.
(07:06):
And so there is that.
As far as the, the rest.
I, I too had that nagging thatthere was something more.
There was, we were supposed tobe doing something different
and, and serving in a differentcapacity, but I couldn't quite
(07:26):
put my finger on it.
And, and like you, I.
Well, I still had my, mystaffing and recruiting
business.
I went down the path ofdifferent certifications,
different coaching, reallytrying to explore what is that
next chapter.
I knew we ultimately wanted toleave the city and move out to
our farm.
(07:47):
Um, again, I had this vision ofwhat I thought that needed to
look like, and I, I was tryingto play God and figure out.
This is how I can work and whatit will look like and how I will
we'll move forward in that nextseason instead of trusting his
(08:07):
provision through the wholething.
So it kind of goes back to thehopeful Philippians four 19,
he's gonna supply for you.
Yeah.
Um, you just have to have faithin that.
Vona Johnson (08:19):
The, the message that I got after trying this and
buying this certification,buying this marketing class, and
doing all the things, themessage that kind of started
that just really landed with meis, have I not provided
everything you need?
Yes, Lord.
Yes.
Yes, you have.
But, you know, and, and I livemy, my whole adult life.
(08:43):
You know, checking off all theboxes, but I never really
understood what it meant to justsurrender and trust.
Mm-hmm.
Him with everything, includingmy work.
And so if we're, if someone'slistening to this conversation
today and they're like, oh man,they are speaking to my heart.
I know exactly what they'retalking about and I've been
(09:05):
feeling that, what are somethings that they could do?
To start moving towards thatthing that God's calling them
to?
What, how, how could they startpreparing themselves for that
next step?
Beverly Smith (09:17):
I think, uh, number one is pay attention to
what those nudges are.
Um, I just had a call with aprospective client and she has a
real heart for training anddevelopment, but she's not.
Really that's not the main focusof her current job.
There's some aspects of that.
(09:39):
And you know, she really wantwanted to, to, to do work that's
more aligned, that she feelsmore passionate about.
And that was one of the things Isaid is just pay attention to
that nudge.
There's a reason that that keepscoming up and there's a reason
that your current company keepsasking you to do the training on
(10:04):
the new software or the new thisor the new that, or you keep
getting tapped for this ormaybe, maybe you look for ways
to do that in a volunteercapacity.
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Maybe
Beverly Smith (10:16):
you really financially.
Aren't ready to take that nextstep.
Maybe you, you know, uh, you andyour spouse think, okay, we need
to stay where we are for thenext X amount of years.
What, what are some ways thatyou could fulfill those desires
(10:36):
that he's put on your heart?
Maybe they're not financiallyrewarding to do that, but.
They fulfill you, they seem toyour soul.
And I will say for me in thatseason of really beginning to
look, so for context for me,that started somewhere about
2017, 2018, um, my parents'health was declining and I spent
(10:59):
a lot of time traveling back andforth, from Arkansas to Texas to
go and check on them.
And so.
I had this mobile universitygoing in on in my car and I
would listen to books and listento podcasts and try to absorb
and learn as much as I could,but paying attention to what
(11:21):
that could look like and, andone of the things I learned
about myself during that seasonwas I really like this part of
my job.
Like I can come home from work.
On this day, and I feel lit upand I come home on this day and
feel rundown.
Why is that?
What, what is different?
What's going on that makes thosedays different?
(11:47):
You know, it could be just theinteractions that you're having
with people and that type ofthing, but it could be the type
of work that you're doing.
So for me, I found out that thedays that I was.
Teaching my staff something new,really getting in there and
watching them have those ahamoments.
Um, the days that I didvolunteer work for the chamber
(12:10):
and was training on how torecruit and different how to
onboard your team, those weredays that I felt really
fulfilled.
Yeah.
And so it was, it's, it's thosetypes of things really pay
attention and just have reallygood self-awareness.
And then from there, ask Godabout that.
(12:32):
Yeah.
Okay.
You're, I'm, I'm feeling thisurge.
What do you want to show me?
What, what, what's a way that Ican be using this now or
preparing to use it for you andfor the kingdom in the next
chapter of my life.
Vona Johnson (12:53):
Oh, I really, really love that.
I think that that's reallybeautiful and I've found that
it's like throughout my life hehas been using.
Me and the talents and abilitiesthat he's given me.
It's almost like breadcrumbswhere it's just like, oh, okay,
now I'm going to do this.
And, and then some days it'sjust like, and that was
preparing me to go, you know, Igot to help on a volunteer basis
(13:17):
to write a booklet aboutdementia.
And then another opportunity wasto be on the leadership team of
putting on a Right to lifeconference for the state.
Mm-hmm.
And you know, just, I mean, Ididn't get paid for any of that,
but it brought me so muchfulfillment.
And it was funny'cause I talkedabout, you know, this latest
thing for me.
I wasn't looking for a job.
It was kind of when those thingssettled down.
(13:38):
And I'm still doing my podcastbut it was like, Lord.
I feel like maybe there's more.
And one day I got a phone callfrom this gal and she was like,
I have been praying and praying.
She said, I need an assistant,she's a realtor and my, all of
my 30 years is in real estate,you know, finance and
development and stuff like that.
And she's like, I've beenpraying I need an assistant.
(13:59):
And God gave me your.
Would you be interested inhaving that conversation?
I'm like, Hmm.
Not something that I reallythought I would do, but yeah,
let's talk about it.
Mm-hmm.
And what, what was reallyinteresting to me is.
You know, based on the salary Iwas making when I retired and
what I'm gonna be making as herassistant, it's laughable, but
(14:21):
I'm going to get to do thingsthat I know and I love and, and
I can, I can serve.
I said to her.
If Jesus could wash theapostle's feet, I'm pretty sure
I can do some filing once in awhile.
You know, it was like, why not?
And, and the beautiful thing is,is that I'm getting to do things
that I love and they're gonnalet me toy with their social
(14:43):
media and their website and dothings like that, that I've been
doing for, you know, nine yearsnow.
I'll get to do that, but thenI'll also have the absolute
freedom when I need to go takecare of the grandkids or be with
my parents or, or take avacation, travel with my
husband.
I can do all of that and justwork around it and it's like, oh
man, that just feels so, um,right.
(15:08):
So like keep, keep your heartopen to something that may feel
like a demotion.
Mm-hmm.
But the freedom that we'reseeking at this stage in our
life, right?
Beverly Smith (15:18):
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
Love that so much.
It's something I would add.
I.
How do you take on some of thesethings that maybe feel like a
volunteer, like you mentioned,helping with the right to life
and, and the co-authoring andthings like that.
Make sure you're documenting.
(15:40):
Those things and make sure thatyou, you're not forgetting that
you're doing those thingsbecause if you do decide to go
in a full blown career whereyou're gonna need a resume and
that type of thing, those arethings, believe it or not, that
can be put on a resume eventhough you're not getting paid
(16:02):
to do that.
So, like, for example, I, uh,was a collaborative author.
With, a networking book for jobseekers and it's a devotional
book and I'm able to add thatnow on as an area where I've
been published, and I thinkthat's gonna be really good.
(16:22):
And, and like you, I've beentapped by people in my network
that know me and, and I'm, I'malso talking to someone about a
particular position to come andhelp with them.
And, you know, being able tohave that on their resume, on my
resume is, interestingly enough,get a tie right into some of the
(16:46):
things that I would be doing inthat role.
So just keeping a gooddocumentation of those and, uh,
you know.
Sometimes if we don't writethings down, we tend to forget
'em or we downplay'em and thosetypes of things that think, oh,
it's not a big deal.
You know, I did that for free.
It wasn't, nobody's gonna thinkanything of it.
It is a big deal.
(17:07):
Yeah, it really is.
Vona Johnson (17:08):
Well, and I'm so glad you brought that up.
'cause it, I hadn't heard it.
I have two books that I'vepublished.
It never occurred to me to putthat on my resume.
You know, I mean, to me therewere just things that I did
because I loved it.
So I, that is really greatadvice.
In fact.
That was my first thing I wasgonna ask you.
When we got to a point whereasking questions, what are the
kinds of things that we couldhighlight in our resume that
(17:30):
might not seem natural to us?
I feel like you've answeredthat, but I wanna give you the
opportunity if there's somethingelse that we should be thinking
about for, for resumes to
Beverly Smith (17:40):
Sure.
I read a great article today on,applying for work in your
fifties and sixties and, one ofthe things that I thought was
great, and it's something that Iwork with my clients on as well,
especially in the resumedevelopment aspect, is we're
inclined to say, 30 years ofexperience doing this.
(18:03):
You really don't wanna phrase itthat way, as much as you wanna
talk about the value that you'rebringing, and honestly, if
someone.
It's completely open and they'renot age bias.
They're gonna be looking forthat person that is going to be
the best fit for the role,whether they're 32 or they're
(18:26):
62, and what is that thing thatthey can that, um, is really
gonna add value to the companyand be able to solve problems
for.
And so it's not as much about.
Your years of experience, butwhat are the things that you've
(18:46):
accomplished and, and especiallyanytime you can give
quantifiable data, that isgreat, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Those types of things are good,as well as just being able to
show and understand the problemsthat they're looking for.
So, so some things that you'regonna wanna look for is, what is
(19:08):
that in that job descriptionthat they're really keying in
on?
And you don't have to be,sometimes there's gonna be job
descriptions where maybe youhaven't done every single thing.
But really key in on some ofthe, the most important aspects
of it.
And talk about how your skillsand experience and your value
(19:34):
can relate to that.
Another thing that I would addto that is, are you involved in
things civically outside ofwork?
Are those things relevant?
There may be some things thatyou don't wanna put on there,
and I get that.
And depending too, maybe whereyou live and where you're
applying for jobs.
(19:55):
I know I will say this to somepeople that live on the East
coast and they're just wide-eyedgoing, you put that on a resume.
But I'll say, you know, whatabout your church activities and
things like that?
You know, here in Arkansas, uh,no.
That's, that's an in, that's agood thing to put on.
And maybe where you are in SouthDakota, that's maybe a good
thing as well.
(20:16):
But, but those are things thatwe will typically put on the
resume because it does show yourinvolvement, especially.
In this area where I live andwhere I did live in Little Rock,
it's very tight-knit network.
And so that sense of beinginvolved in the community really
(20:37):
shows your well-roundedness,your commitment.
But some of my clients that livein bigger cities.
Sometimes some of theircompanies encourage them to be
involved in the community.
And I'm like, oh, let's do,definitely put that on the
resume because the next placeyou go may really look to see
are you one that's willing toparticipate?
(20:59):
Are you willing to be there, youknow, and, and help us shine in
the community.
Those types of things as well.
Vona Johnson (21:07):
I think that that's really a great point.
And, and another thing I, Iwould encourage people to think
about is.
If.
I mean, I wouldn't, if you'renot applying for a job in a
faith environment, you probablydon't want everything, you know
to mm-hmm.
Scream.
Look at me, I'm, I'm a believer.
But if you put that in there,that volunteer or those things
(21:28):
that you've done, if somebodydoesn't hire you specifically
because you are a believermm-hmm.
You probably don't wanna workthere anyway.
Um,
Beverly Smith (21:38):
I think that's true.
Yes.
Vona Johnson (21:41):
I encourage us not to shy away from places, that
are more secular because I feellike God puts us there so that
we can reflect his love andshine his light.
Beverly Smith (21:51):
He may be a missionary to that company.
Exactly.
Vona Johnson (21:54):
And to me, I feel like the work world that he has
us in is our mission field.
Mm-hmm.
And so we, we can't shy awayfrom that.
And again, courageous retirementis all about having the courage
to share when it's appropriateto share.
I mean, he has us where he hasus so that we can help people
shift their perspective in someof those secular places.
Beverly Smith (22:16):
Well, and I'll add to that too.
We need to move past that.
Church is something that we goto on Sunday or or Wednesday.
Being a Christian is your entirelife,
Speaker 5 (22:30):
right?
Beverly Smith (22:31):
And, the workplace, the marketplace is,
is the mission field.
It is where you can shine yourlight.
And not everybody is called togo overseas to do mission work.
And God puts us in differentplaces to, to be a light and
(22:52):
shine for him in those companiesas well as maybe to make a good
living so that you can supportmission work in another
location.
You know, it just so happensthat, that my friend, I told you
before we jumped on this call, Ihave a friend that lets me come
in and use his office to make myZoom calls and things like that.
(23:14):
He also lets a nonprofit thatdoes medical missions in
Guatemala use part of hisoffice.
Yes, too.
And so that's another reason Ilove being here.
But it is like, I think it'sexciting because I would not
have known about them had it notbeen for him bringing me into
(23:35):
this.
And, you know, maybe that's aneffort I will choose to support.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Yeah.
Beverly Smith (23:41):
You know, from the proceeds of my business and
those places need us for
Vona Johnson (23:47):
sure.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
You know, I mentioned earlierabout money not being.
It, it, there's nothing wrongwith making money.
And, and when I talk about nothaving been financially
successful, I really believethat that's a journey that God
has had me on to help me realizethat it's not about the money.
Mm-hmm.
I don't know that tomorrow mybook might take off and I might
(24:09):
be, you know, a million dollar.
Who knows?
I don't.
And it doesn't matter.
I'm gonna keep doing what heasked me to do regardless.
And I love that you brought outthe fact.
That for people who arefinancially successful, that
allows them to invest inmissions and, and just, I mean,
there are so many things andwe're all called to our thing.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
Mm-hmm.
Vona Johnson (24:29):
You know, and I, I just think that it's beautiful.
I have this image of, if we wereall following exactly what God
wanted us to do, and we weredoing, you know, the mm-hmm.
The biblically.
You know, having the courage tospeak up Ha.
You know, taking the job thatwe're called to and everybody
did that.
Can you imagine?
How beautiful?
(24:49):
Well, it'd be like heaven,right?
One day we're gonna, we're,we're, we're looking forward to
that.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I love that.
You know, one of the thing thatI wanted to make sure we talked
about, and I think you've reallybrought some really great
points, is, but.
Um, for me personally was thatwhole idea of, you know, it's a
(25:12):
progression and my, you know,it's like my title and the, and
it's always gotta be moving upand, and not, not to be afraid
in this season of life to say,you know what?
I am gonna step back becausethat allows me the freedom to do
other things.
To go on mission trips andthings like that and not make it
about, oh, well what will peoplethink if.
I'm, you know, working atMcDonald's or whatever it is,
(25:34):
you know?
Yes, yes.
Um, we just need to get over theidea that it's all about the
achievement and the striving.
It can be so much more.
Beverly Smith (25:42):
A hundred percent.
Uh, I know in this season he isreally worked on my pride in
this.
You know, and, and just howprideful I was of, oh, I have a
business and I am a businessowner and this type of thing.
And I just will confess righthere and now that one time I
(26:03):
called my husband out on, um, Ididn't do it in front of anyone
but privately I said.
Why is it when you, when peopleask what, what we do, you always
tell'em that we're retired orwhatever, you know, and, and
why, why don't you tell them?
I have a business?
And I was now, and, and I, I, hechanged it.
(26:28):
He did those things.
And it's funny, I was justthinking this a couple of weeks
ago.
I was like.
That was really prideful of me.
And now I would just assume himnot tell people.
Um, because, you know, what wasI trying to do?
Was I trying to attract peopleto my, I dunno, I was just very
prideful that, um, I still work,I still am this person.
(26:52):
And it's interesting, I haveanother friend that also coaches
women.
Um.
Post-retirement.
But really her thing was she hadhad that high powered corporate
job and she said she reallystruggled with the identity.
Vona Johnson (27:07):
Mm-hmm.
Beverly Smith (27:07):
Words.
And, I'll say the other thing heworked on.
So I've been a runner since Iwas 11, and, um, you know, I'm
now quickly, uh.
I'm closer to 60 than anythingelse, so, so I've been a runner
for a very, very long time, andI was very good at one point in
(27:28):
my life.
And, um, yeah, I, this year Ireally told God, I surrendered
that to him.
I said, I'm sorry that I havestopped my identity in being as
a runner.
Being a business owner, beingthat type of thing.
Like I, I just wanted all Iwanted people to, to know, and I
(27:50):
wanted people in our runningcommunity to know that I was
really fast at one point.
What does it matter?
They don't care.
You know?
Is that prideful or what?
I guess the thing I would add toall of that is your identity is
in him we talked about provisionalready, but I think it's more
important to find that, likethat work that feels aligned.
(28:17):
I think it's really interestingthe role that you're about to
take on.
You are doing someone a hugefavor.
You are going to be such ablessing to them because they're
not gonna have to train you tosome of these things that Right.
You know, if they were, have.
Train someone fresh outta schoolto do it.
You're gonna know when you'regonna be able to pick up the
(28:38):
pace and Yeah, and, and do somethings.
And you don't know what doorsGod's gonna open along this way
and, and what a blessing.
And that's kind of how I look atmy current role too, because I
mean, I certainly don't have theincome that I had in my previous
business.
You get to meet some really coolfolks with what I do and just if
(29:02):
I can help someone shortcut, um,and not take six or seven years
to figure out what's next andnot spend all this money on the
next shiny object, because I canshortcut that for them and help
them figure out those nextsteps, that's a gift that I
(29:23):
have.
That I didn't realize I had andbeing able to share that, then,
you know, it makes it all worthit.
Vona Johnson (29:34):
I love it.
Beverly Smith (29:35):
You know,
Vona Johnson (29:36):
I love it.
So, Beverly, if there is someonelistening and they're like, yes,
yes.
I, I need to connect with thiswoman, I wanna know more, how
could they get ahold of you?
Beverly Smith (29:47):
So my email address is Beverly at c.
SSA r.com
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Okay.
Beverly Smith (29:55):
And I'll give that to you so you'll, you'll,
you can have that, LinkedIn.
I'm on there as Beverly Smith.
Uh, that is probably where I amthe most active and would love
for you to connect with me thereand stop by and say hello on one
of my posts.
I try to, I try to add.
Value in talking about thingswith career clarity and next
(30:22):
steps and branding on LinkedIn.
Obviously we talk a lot aboutresumes and that type of thing
on LinkedIn as well.
But sometimes I'll just share.
Interesting things that aregoing on in my personal life.
Vona Johnson (30:37):
I know that we're coming close to the end and I'm
just so grateful that, that youjoined us today.
We, there's all kinds ofwonderful words of advice here.
Do you have any last thoughtsyou'd like to leave with our
listeners before we sign offtoday?
Beverly Smith (30:52):
Yeah, I think I would just, again, I, I kind of
touched on this earlier, but,retirement, it's gonna be what
you'd make it.
And, I think that there's a,there's certain expectations the
world puts on you when it comesto retirement.
(31:12):
But you don't have to retire andnot ever go back to work.
You might retire from yourcurrent career.
Maybe you're fully vested withyour company and you can't.
I have a friend that just didthis, he took early retirement
with a company that he has beenwith for 26 years and he, I
(31:34):
don't know how he, he took ahuge pay cut, but he went to
work doing.
Something in his skillset for aChristian university, and he is
loving it.
He feels like he's got a newlease on life in his late
fifties, and he told his wife,he said, I'll probably if, if
(31:54):
they'll have me, I'll work heretimes 70, because I love the
people.
I love the environment, I lovethe lack of pressure and.
Just knowing that I am addingvalue with the skillset God gave
me.
So those are some things that Iwould, I would say, I think it's
(32:15):
just about alignment.
Vona Johnson (32:16):
I really love that and I really, uh, relate to that
because I too took earlyretirement almost the minute I
could with a huge cut in pay andall of that.
And you know, people in some ofmy circles are like, retirement,
we can't use that word.
We gotta get rid of it.
We're, you know, we're rewiring,we're blah, blah, blah.
Well, some of us have workeddecades.
(32:38):
Investing into a retirement planand we should not let people
make us feel ashamed of the factthat we are retiring from a
career that we can be proud of.
But that doesn't mean that wecan't go on and create something
entirely different or entirelythe same.
We get to make it, and that'swhat's finishing well is all
about right?
(32:58):
Align your desires with thedesires that God has put in our
hearts and go do it.
Live life.
Beverly Smith (33:03):
Absolutely.
I'll add one more thing.
Vona.
Yes.
Um, and I had someone share thiswith me back when I was still in
staffing and, and I thought itwas, she was a, she's a mentor
of mine in the industry, but shetalked about how, the younger
boomers, generation X, we aregoing to still have.
(33:28):
So much value that we can add toa company and we may want to
retire, but there's a goodpossibility that you could go
back to work even for the samecompany or in the same industry
on a consulting basis, on apart-time basis, so that you
still are adding value.
(33:49):
It's a win-win for everyonebecause they're not having to
pay a high.
Salary, maybe you're alreadydrawing Social security, so you
can only draw, you know, earn somuch in order to keep that
social security or, or maybe youare able to take Medicare and so
you don't need insurancebenefits anymore.
(34:10):
There's just a lot of Yeah,items that you could negotiate
on whether you wanted to workfull or part-time and just know
that that is such an optionbecause some of those companies
are gonna be glad to see youback.
I think it's, it, it's kind of asad fact, but it's true.
We started, uh, planning ourfamilies in the early seventies.
(34:33):
Um, I came from a family offour.
I had one child who now has onechild, and they struggled to get
that one child.
We have an aging population.
There's a lot of opportunitystill there in corporate America
if you desire to be there or ina small business, if you desire
(34:55):
to be there, there is still alot of opportunity, just like
your friend that reached out toyou and you're gonna do some
filing.
I mean, you typically go, oh,why wouldn't you hire some
18-year-old to go and do that?
There's not an 18-year-oldthere.
Vona Johnson (35:13):
Exactly
Beverly Smith (35:14):
population.
You are going to be such a giftto wherever you go to work.
And if you will flip the switch,look at your.
What you have to offer as a giftand not get up all in your head
with self-doubt, right?
No one's gonna want me.
I'm too old.
(35:36):
They're gonna think this.
They're gonna, who are you toknow what they're gonna think?
So just, just some, some thingsand I'll get off my set box.
I
Vona Johnson (35:43):
can get off.
No, I love this.
I love it.
And, and you are absolutelyright.
We can talk ourselves out ofsome of the best things that God
brings to us.
So just keep, keep your mindopen to the suggestions.
I would've never.
I mean, if, if this gal had putan ad in the paper, I would not
have answered it because itwould not have even occurred to
me that I would be the personshe was looking for.
(36:06):
But she, what's really coolabout it is she is in her
seventies.
Oh.
And she's got this amazingbusiness.
This is a baby, right?
Well, and you know, and becauseI'm a retirement coach.
What's really cool is I can,while I'm there, I can help her
see how she can start pullingaway from the company and
(36:28):
releasing some of theresponsibilities.
So she's really getting abargain'cause she's getting a
retirement coach for, you know,so it's, it's just a beautiful,
a beautiful connection and onlyGod can make those kinds of
things.
Mm-hmm.
So just watch where he's movingin your life.
Beverly Smith (36:45):
Amen.
Sister,
Vona Johnson (36:47):
let's stop on that one.
Thank you so much, Beverly.
It's been such a joy.
Let's stay in touch.
Absolutely.
So, God bless.
Beverly Smith (36:54):
God bless.
So wasn't that wonderful?
Beverly had so many amazing tipsand suggestions for us, and I
hope that this has encouragedyou to step into God's call for
more, and that you will finishwell where you are, and then
step into the next season,whatever that might be for you,
with lots of joy and expectationfor what God's going to use your
(37:15):
talents and skills for.
I'll be back in two weeks withmore of courageous retirement.
Until then, be sure to engageyour faith and live your more as
you live in your courageousretirement.
Are you at or near retirementand feel like there's gotta be
(00:02):
more to life than this, butyou're afraid to go after
anything different because,nobody would possibly want to
hire me or what would I be ableto offer a new business?
There are all kinds of lies thatwe tell ourselves about why
industry would not want someonenear the age of retirement.
I'm here today to tell you thatthat is not true.
(00:22):
There are so many opportunitiesout there for you, and this
episode is going to help answerso many questions and encourage
you to keep going because it'snot over until it's over.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Do you fear?
What lies beyond retirement?
What if it's a gateway to a lifefilled with purpose, meaning,
and adventure rather than anend?
Discover peace and fulfillmentas you boldly enter this new
chapter in CourageousRetirement, a Christian podcast.
I'm your host, author, and coachVona Johnson.
Let's get started.
Vona Johnson (00:52):
I am so excited to have with me today Beverly
Smith, And we are going to havea conversation about how we can
finish well in our careers.
You all know that I love to callthe season of retirement the
best season, and sometimes.
Truly always, we should startthinking about that long before
that day of retirement.
Today we're gonna walk along theideas of if you are
(01:14):
transitioning, whether it's intoa new career as you retire from
your current job, or if you justwanna think about how you can
finish well before you retire,Beverly and I are gonna roll up
our sleeves and find out aboutthat.
So, welcome Beverly to the show.
I'm so excited to have you heretoday.
Beverly Smith (01:31):
So excited about this conversation on
Vona Johnson (01:34):
Oh, I love it.
I love it.
And I love the fact that beforewe hopped on here, you shared
how God has been shifting thingsaround in your life.
And so not only is thissomething that you're talking
about, this is something you'reliving in, in, so to speak.
Mm-hmm.
And ironically, he has me in aplace where some things have
shifted too.
Um, starting another, I.
(01:55):
I don't know that it's a career.
I don't know what he has inmind, but it's, it's kind of
cool how he, he works in ourlives and leads us where he
wants us to be.
So first of all, why don't youtell us, what you're doing and
what that transition looks likefor you?
Sure,
Beverly Smith (02:10):
sure.
So currently I work with people,that are looking to change
change roles.
And we, my team and I help themwith their resumes, with their
job search strategies andLinkedIn branding, those types
of things.
That's kind of the surfacelevel.
(02:30):
Most of the people I tend toattract tend to be over 45, over
50, and very similar to what Iwent through.
They have found themselves at aplace where.
They're either burnt out or theyjust don't feel aligned with the
work that they're doing, and.
(02:51):
Unfortunately, society tends totell us the lies that you're too
old.
And you know what?
I've been, I've been in thestaffing and recruiting business
for 27 years before doing whatI'm doing now.
So I get that.
I will not sit here and tell youthat there are not people that
do have an age bias.
(03:11):
There are, those are not theplaces that you're gonna be
working If they have an agebias, that's a door.
God's closed for you, right.
But I think so many people havebought into that lie that
they're afraid and they're justlike, I have to stay stuck until
then, and I have to work until62, 65, 70, whatever that magic
(03:35):
number is in this role, and Ican't do it any other way.
And I'm just here to tell youthat you can.
Oh,
Vona Johnson (03:43):
I love that message because I just feel that
if we're in a job that we don'tlove, and I, part of my message
is if we're in a job that wedon't love, maybe there's
something that we need to shift.
You know, there are other peoplewho, who have left job after job
after job, and at some pointit's like, hmm, maybe it's me.
(04:04):
Maybe it's my approach, but, butnot all.
And, and I agree.
I particularly, I would thinkpeople in our generation, I
don't know exactly where youare, but we'll, we'll make that
broad, um, have a tendency tofeel like we, you know, we grew
up with, you take a job and youstay in that job for 30 years
(04:26):
and you retire, then you'redone.
And.
At the other end of thespectrum, we see so many people,
young people now that arechanging jobs all the time.
I don't know that either one ofthose is right or wrong, but
it's, it's not a good situationif we're in a work environment
that either isn't healthy for usor that we, we don't love.
(04:47):
I feel that God wants us to findjoy in life and do the work, uh,
that, that brings us joy, so,mm-hmm.
Um, I agree with you.
If, if there, if you're feelingstuck, go find something that
brings you joy.
In fact, courageous retirementis the tagline, is answer God's
call to more.
Mm-hmm.
And if, if you're feeling thatlonging that there's something
(05:08):
more in life, there probably is.
So
Speaker 5 (05:11):
yes.
Vona Johnson (05:12):
So let's explore
Speaker 5 (05:13):
hundred percent.
Vona Johnson (05:13):
Let's explore that a little bit.
For me, I retired almost nineyears ago.
In January it will be nineyears, and for me, I loved my
job.
But there was, I just had thisnagging sense that there was
more, that there was somethingout there that, that I needed to
be doing.
And I went down the path of allkinds of coaching certifications
(05:34):
and things like that.
And the rest of my story is, isthat hasn't been financially
lucrative.
But it has brought me so muchpeace and so much fulfillment,
and I know that I'm, I'mfulfilling each day.
I'm doing what God wants me todo, and I realized that it's no
longer about the money, it'sabout serving where he wants me
(05:54):
to serve.
Have you experienced that aswell?
Beverly Smith (05:57):
Absolutely.
And, and, and just kind ofstarting from the back end of
that.
That, that statement there, Ithink so many of us are driven
about the financial impact, andI know I was, I mean, we had a
very successful business, but itburned us out.
It was very hard and it, I, Ijust had it in my head that it
(06:20):
had to finish a certain way.
There's a little box and this isthe only way you can get outta
your business and you've gottasell it and you've gotta do this
and you've gotta do that.
And.
In hindsight, what I realizedis, and one of my favorite
scriptures is Philippians 4:19,is he will a supply all my needs
(06:44):
according to his glorious, richriches in Christ Jesus.
And I wasn't living that.
I, I'm like, I could quote it,you know, and I could say all
that.
I could say all the good stuff.
I felt like I had to strive andI had to do what I need to do to
make the ends meet, and I justwas not trusting his provision
and trusting what it would looklike.
(07:06):
And so there is that.
As far as the, the rest.
I, I too had that nagging thatthere was something more.
There was, we were supposed tobe doing something different
and, and serving in a differentcapacity, but I couldn't quite
(07:26):
put my finger on it.
And, and like you, I.
Well, I still had my, mystaffing and recruiting
business.
I went down the path ofdifferent certifications,
different coaching, reallytrying to explore what is that
next chapter.
I knew we ultimately wanted toleave the city and move out to
our farm.
(07:47):
Um, again, I had this vision ofwhat I thought that needed to
look like, and I, I was tryingto play God and figure out.
This is how I can work and whatit will look like and how I will
we'll move forward in that nextseason instead of trusting his
(08:07):
provision through the wholething.
So it kind of goes back to thehopeful Philippians four 19,
he's gonna supply for you.
Yeah.
Um, you just have to have faithin that.
Vona Johnson (08:19):
The, the message that I got after trying this and
buying this certification,buying this marketing class, and
doing all the things, themessage that kind of started
that just really landed with meis, have I not provided
everything you need?
Yes, Lord.
Yes.
Yes, you have.
But, you know, and, and I livemy, my whole adult life.
(08:43):
You know, checking off all theboxes, but I never really
understood what it meant to justsurrender and trust.
Mm-hmm.
Him with everything, includingmy work.
And so if we're, if someone'slistening to this conversation
today and they're like, oh man,they are speaking to my heart.
I know exactly what they'retalking about and I've been
(09:05):
feeling that, what are somethings that they could do?
To start moving towards thatthing that God's calling them
to?
What, how, how could they startpreparing themselves for that
next step?
Beverly Smith (09:17):
I think, uh, number one is pay attention to
what those nudges are.
Um, I just had a call with aprospective client and she has a
real heart for training anddevelopment, but she's not.
Really that's not the main focusof her current job.
There's some aspects of that.
(09:39):
And you know, she really wantwanted to, to, to do work that's
more aligned, that she feelsmore passionate about.
And that was one of the things Isaid is just pay attention to
that nudge.
There's a reason that that keepscoming up and there's a reason
that your current company keepsasking you to do the training on
(10:04):
the new software or the new thisor the new that, or you keep
getting tapped for this ormaybe, maybe you look for ways
to do that in a volunteercapacity.
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Maybe
Beverly Smith (10:16):
you really financially.
Aren't ready to take that nextstep.
Maybe you, you know, uh, you andyour spouse think, okay, we need
to stay where we are for thenext X amount of years.
What, what are some ways thatyou could fulfill those desires
(10:36):
that he's put on your heart?
Maybe they're not financiallyrewarding to do that, but.
They fulfill you, they seem toyour soul.
And I will say for me in thatseason of really beginning to
look, so for context for me,that started somewhere about
2017, 2018, um, my parents'health was declining and I spent
(10:59):
a lot of time traveling back andforth, from Arkansas to Texas to
go and check on them.
And so.
I had this mobile universitygoing in on in my car and I
would listen to books and listento podcasts and try to absorb
and learn as much as I could,but paying attention to what
(11:21):
that could look like and, andone of the things I learned
about myself during that seasonwas I really like this part of
my job.
Like I can come home from work.
On this day, and I feel lit upand I come home on this day and
feel rundown.
Why is that?
What, what is different?
What's going on that makes thosedays different?
(11:47):
You know, it could be just theinteractions that you're having
with people and that type ofthing, but it could be the type
of work that you're doing.
So for me, I found out that thedays that I was.
Teaching my staff something new,really getting in there and
watching them have those ahamoments.
Um, the days that I didvolunteer work for the chamber
(12:10):
and was training on how torecruit and different how to
onboard your team, those weredays that I felt really
fulfilled.
Yeah.
And so it was, it's, it's thosetypes of things really pay
attention and just have reallygood self-awareness.
And then from there, ask Godabout that.
(12:32):
Yeah.
Okay.
You're, I'm, I'm feeling thisurge.
What do you want to show me?
What, what, what's a way that Ican be using this now or
preparing to use it for you andfor the kingdom in the next
chapter of my life.
Vona Johnson (12:53):
Oh, I really, really love that.
I think that that's reallybeautiful and I've found that
it's like throughout my life hehas been using.
Me and the talents and abilitiesthat he's given me.
It's almost like breadcrumbswhere it's just like, oh, okay,
now I'm going to do this.
And, and then some days it'sjust like, and that was
preparing me to go, you know, Igot to help on a volunteer basis
(13:17):
to write a booklet aboutdementia.
And then another opportunity wasto be on the leadership team of
putting on a Right to lifeconference for the state.
Mm-hmm.
And you know, just, I mean, Ididn't get paid for any of that,
but it brought me so muchfulfillment.
And it was funny'cause I talkedabout, you know, this latest
thing for me.
I wasn't looking for a job.
It was kind of when those thingssettled down.
(13:38):
And I'm still doing my podcastbut it was like, Lord.
I feel like maybe there's more.
And one day I got a phone callfrom this gal and she was like,
I have been praying and praying.
She said, I need an assistant,she's a realtor and my, all of
my 30 years is in real estate,you know, finance and
development and stuff like that.
And she's like, I've beenpraying I need an assistant.
(13:59):
And God gave me your.
Would you be interested inhaving that conversation?
I'm like, Hmm.
Not something that I reallythought I would do, but yeah,
let's talk about it.
Mm-hmm.
And what, what was reallyinteresting to me is.
You know, based on the salary Iwas making when I retired and
what I'm gonna be making as herassistant, it's laughable, but
(14:21):
I'm going to get to do thingsthat I know and I love and, and
I can, I can serve.
I said to her.
If Jesus could wash theapostle's feet, I'm pretty sure
I can do some filing once in awhile.
You know, it was like, why not?
And, and the beautiful thing is,is that I'm getting to do things
that I love and they're gonnalet me toy with their social
(14:43):
media and their website and dothings like that, that I've been
doing for, you know, nine yearsnow.
I'll get to do that, but thenI'll also have the absolute
freedom when I need to go takecare of the grandkids or be with
my parents or, or take avacation, travel with my
husband.
I can do all of that and justwork around it and it's like, oh
man, that just feels so, um,right.
(15:08):
So like keep, keep your heartopen to something that may feel
like a demotion.
Mm-hmm.
But the freedom that we'reseeking at this stage in our
life, right?
Beverly Smith (15:18):
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
Love that so much.
It's something I would add.
I.
How do you take on some of thesethings that maybe feel like a
volunteer, like you mentioned,helping with the right to life
and, and the co-authoring andthings like that.
Make sure you're documenting.
(15:40):
Those things and make sure thatyou, you're not forgetting that
you're doing those thingsbecause if you do decide to go
in a full blown career whereyou're gonna need a resume and
that type of thing, those arethings, believe it or not, that
can be put on a resume eventhough you're not getting paid
(16:02):
to do that.
So, like, for example, I, uh,was a collaborative author.
With, a networking book for jobseekers and it's a devotional
book and I'm able to add thatnow on as an area where I've
been published, and I thinkthat's gonna be really good.
(16:22):
And, and like you, I've beentapped by people in my network
that know me and, and I'm, I'malso talking to someone about a
particular position to come andhelp with them.
And, you know, being able tohave that on their resume, on my
resume is, interestingly enough,get a tie right into some of the
(16:46):
things that I would be doing inthat role.
So just keeping a gooddocumentation of those and, uh,
you know.
Sometimes if we don't writethings down, we tend to forget
'em or we downplay'em and thosetypes of things that think, oh,
it's not a big deal.
You know, I did that for free.
It wasn't, nobody's gonna thinkanything of it.
It is a big deal.
(17:07):
Yeah, it really is.
Vona Johnson (17:08):
Well, and I'm so glad you brought that up.
'cause it, I hadn't heard it.
I have two books that I'vepublished.
It never occurred to me to putthat on my resume.
You know, I mean, to me therewere just things that I did
because I loved it.
So I, that is really greatadvice.
In fact.
That was my first thing I wasgonna ask you.
When we got to a point whereasking questions, what are the
kinds of things that we couldhighlight in our resume that
(17:30):
might not seem natural to us?
I feel like you've answeredthat, but I wanna give you the
opportunity if there's somethingelse that we should be thinking
about for, for resumes to
Beverly Smith (17:40):
Sure.
I read a great article today on,applying for work in your
fifties and sixties and, one ofthe things that I thought was
great, and it's something that Iwork with my clients on as well,
especially in the resumedevelopment aspect, is we're
inclined to say, 30 years ofexperience doing this.
(18:03):
You really don't wanna phrase itthat way, as much as you wanna
talk about the value that you'rebringing, and honestly, if
someone.
It's completely open and they'renot age bias.
They're gonna be looking forthat person that is going to be
the best fit for the role,whether they're 32 or they're
(18:26):
62, and what is that thing thatthey can that, um, is really
gonna add value to the companyand be able to solve problems
for.
And so it's not as much about.
Your years of experience, butwhat are the things that you've
(18:46):
accomplished and, and especiallyanytime you can give
quantifiable data, that isgreat, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Those types of things are good,as well as just being able to
show and understand the problemsthat they're looking for.
So, so some things that you'regonna wanna look for is, what is
(19:08):
that in that job descriptionthat they're really keying in
on?
And you don't have to be,sometimes there's gonna be job
descriptions where maybe youhaven't done every single thing.
But really key in on some ofthe, the most important aspects
of it.
And talk about how your skillsand experience and your value
(19:34):
can relate to that.
Another thing that I would addto that is, are you involved in
things civically outside ofwork?
Are those things relevant?
There may be some things thatyou don't wanna put on there,
and I get that.
And depending too, maybe whereyou live and where you're
applying for jobs.
(19:55):
I know I will say this to somepeople that live on the East
coast and they're just wide-eyedgoing, you put that on a resume.
But I'll say, you know, whatabout your church activities and
things like that?
You know, here in Arkansas, uh,no.
That's, that's an in, that's agood thing to put on.
And maybe where you are in SouthDakota, that's maybe a good
thing as well.
(20:16):
But, but those are things thatwe will typically put on the
resume because it does show yourinvolvement, especially.
In this area where I live andwhere I did live in Little Rock,
it's very tight-knit network.
And so that sense of beinginvolved in the community really
(20:37):
shows your well-roundedness,your commitment.
But some of my clients that livein bigger cities.
Sometimes some of theircompanies encourage them to be
involved in the community.
And I'm like, oh, let's do,definitely put that on the
resume because the next placeyou go may really look to see
are you one that's willing toparticipate?
(20:59):
Are you willing to be there, youknow, and, and help us shine in
the community.
Those types of things as well.
Vona Johnson (21:07):
I think that that's really a great point.
And, and another thing I, Iwould encourage people to think
about is.
If.
I mean, I wouldn't, if you'renot applying for a job in a
faith environment, you probablydon't want everything, you know
to mm-hmm.
Scream.
Look at me, I'm, I'm a believer.
But if you put that in there,that volunteer or those things
(21:28):
that you've done, if somebodydoesn't hire you specifically
because you are a believermm-hmm.
You probably don't wanna workthere anyway.
Um,
Beverly Smith (21:38):
I think that's true.
Yes.
Vona Johnson (21:41):
I encourage us not to shy away from places, that
are more secular because I feellike God puts us there so that
we can reflect his love andshine his light.
Beverly Smith (21:51):
He may be a missionary to that company.
Exactly.
Vona Johnson (21:54):
And to me, I feel like the work world that he has
us in is our mission field.
Mm-hmm.
And so we, we can't shy awayfrom that.
And again, courageous retirementis all about having the courage
to share when it's appropriateto share.
I mean, he has us where he hasus so that we can help people
shift their perspective in someof those secular places.
Beverly Smith (22:16):
Well, and I'll add to that too.
We need to move past that.
Church is something that we goto on Sunday or or Wednesday.
Being a Christian is your entirelife,
Speaker 5 (22:30):
right?
Beverly Smith (22:31):
And, the workplace, the marketplace is,
is the mission field.
It is where you can shine yourlight.
And not everybody is called togo overseas to do mission work.
And God puts us in differentplaces to, to be a light and
(22:52):
shine for him in those companiesas well as maybe to make a good
living so that you can supportmission work in another
location.
You know, it just so happensthat, that my friend, I told you
before we jumped on this call, Ihave a friend that lets me come
in and use his office to make myZoom calls and things like that.
(23:14):
He also lets a nonprofit thatdoes medical missions in
Guatemala use part of hisoffice.
Yes, too.
And so that's another reason Ilove being here.
But it is like, I think it'sexciting because I would not
have known about them had it notbeen for him bringing me into
(23:35):
this.
And, you know, maybe that's aneffort I will choose to support.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Yeah.
Beverly Smith (23:41):
You know, from the proceeds of my business and
those places need us for
Vona Johnson (23:47):
sure.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
You know, I mentioned earlierabout money not being.
It, it, there's nothing wrongwith making money.
And, and when I talk about nothaving been financially
successful, I really believethat that's a journey that God
has had me on to help me realizethat it's not about the money.
Mm-hmm.
I don't know that tomorrow mybook might take off and I might
(24:09):
be, you know, a million dollar.
Who knows?
I don't.
And it doesn't matter.
I'm gonna keep doing what heasked me to do regardless.
And I love that you brought outthe fact.
That for people who arefinancially successful, that
allows them to invest inmissions and, and just, I mean,
there are so many things andwe're all called to our thing.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
Mm-hmm.
Vona Johnson (24:29):
You know, and I, I just think that it's beautiful.
I have this image of, if we wereall following exactly what God
wanted us to do, and we weredoing, you know, the mm-hmm.
The biblically.
You know, having the courage tospeak up Ha.
You know, taking the job thatwe're called to and everybody
did that.
Can you imagine?
How beautiful?
(24:49):
Well, it'd be like heaven,right?
One day we're gonna, we're,we're, we're looking forward to
that.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I love that.
You know, one of the thing thatI wanted to make sure we talked
about, and I think you've reallybrought some really great
points, is, but.
Um, for me personally was thatwhole idea of, you know, it's a
(25:12):
progression and my, you know,it's like my title and the, and
it's always gotta be moving upand, and not, not to be afraid
in this season of life to say,you know what?
I am gonna step back becausethat allows me the freedom to do
other things.
To go on mission trips andthings like that and not make it
about, oh, well what will peoplethink if.
I'm, you know, working atMcDonald's or whatever it is,
(25:34):
you know?
Yes, yes.
Um, we just need to get over theidea that it's all about the
achievement and the striving.
It can be so much more.
Beverly Smith (25:42):
A hundred percent.
Uh, I know in this season he isreally worked on my pride in
this.
You know, and, and just howprideful I was of, oh, I have a
business and I am a businessowner and this type of thing.
And I just will confess righthere and now that one time I
(26:03):
called my husband out on, um, Ididn't do it in front of anyone
but privately I said.
Why is it when you, when peopleask what, what we do, you always
tell'em that we're retired orwhatever, you know, and, and
why, why don't you tell them?
I have a business?
And I was now, and, and I, I, hechanged it.
(26:28):
He did those things.
And it's funny, I was justthinking this a couple of weeks
ago.
I was like.
That was really prideful of me.
And now I would just assume himnot tell people.
Um, because, you know, what wasI trying to do?
Was I trying to attract peopleto my, I dunno, I was just very
prideful that, um, I still work,I still am this person.
(26:52):
And it's interesting, I haveanother friend that also coaches
women.
Um.
Post-retirement.
But really her thing was she hadhad that high powered corporate
job and she said she reallystruggled with the identity.
Vona Johnson (27:07):
Mm-hmm.
Beverly Smith (27:07):
Words.
And, I'll say the other thing heworked on.
So I've been a runner since Iwas 11, and, um, you know, I'm
now quickly, uh.
I'm closer to 60 than anythingelse, so, so I've been a runner
for a very, very long time, andI was very good at one point in
(27:28):
my life.
And, um, yeah, I, this year Ireally told God, I surrendered
that to him.
I said, I'm sorry that I havestopped my identity in being as
a runner.
Being a business owner, beingthat type of thing.
Like I, I just wanted all Iwanted people to, to know, and I
(27:50):
wanted people in our runningcommunity to know that I was
really fast at one point.
What does it matter?
They don't care.
You know?
Is that prideful or what?
I guess the thing I would add toall of that is your identity is
in him we talked about provisionalready, but I think it's more
important to find that, likethat work that feels aligned.
(28:17):
I think it's really interestingthe role that you're about to
take on.
You are doing someone a hugefavor.
You are going to be such ablessing to them because they're
not gonna have to train you tosome of these things that Right.
You know, if they were, have.
Train someone fresh outta schoolto do it.
You're gonna know when you'regonna be able to pick up the
(28:38):
pace and Yeah, and, and do somethings.
And you don't know what doorsGod's gonna open along this way
and, and what a blessing.
And that's kind of how I look atmy current role too, because I
mean, I certainly don't have theincome that I had in my previous
business.
You get to meet some really coolfolks with what I do and just if
(29:02):
I can help someone shortcut, um,and not take six or seven years
to figure out what's next andnot spend all this money on the
next shiny object, because I canshortcut that for them and help
them figure out those nextsteps, that's a gift that I
(29:23):
have.
That I didn't realize I had andbeing able to share that, then,
you know, it makes it all worthit.
Vona Johnson (29:34):
I love it.
Beverly Smith (29:35):
You know,
Vona Johnson (29:36):
I love it.
So, Beverly, if there is someonelistening and they're like, yes,
yes.
I, I need to connect with thiswoman, I wanna know more, how
could they get ahold of you?
Beverly Smith (29:47):
So my email address is Beverly at c.
SSA r.com
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Okay.
Beverly Smith (29:55):
And I'll give that to you so you'll, you'll,
you can have that, LinkedIn.
I'm on there as Beverly Smith.
Uh, that is probably where I amthe most active and would love
for you to connect with me thereand stop by and say hello on one
of my posts.
I try to, I try to add.
Value in talking about thingswith career clarity and next
(30:22):
steps and branding on LinkedIn.
Obviously we talk a lot aboutresumes and that type of thing
on LinkedIn as well.
But sometimes I'll just share.
Interesting things that aregoing on in my personal life.
Vona Johnson (30:37):
I know that we're coming close to the end and I'm
just so grateful that, that youjoined us today.
We, there's all kinds ofwonderful words of advice here.
Do you have any last thoughtsyou'd like to leave with our
listeners before we sign offtoday?
Beverly Smith (30:52):
Yeah, I think I would just, again, I, I kind of
touched on this earlier, but,retirement, it's gonna be what
you'd make it.
And, I think that there's a,there's certain expectations the
world puts on you when it comesto retirement.
(31:12):
But you don't have to retire andnot ever go back to work.
You might retire from yourcurrent career.
Maybe you're fully vested withyour company and you can't.
I have a friend that just didthis, he took early retirement
with a company that he has beenwith for 26 years and he, I
(31:34):
don't know how he, he took ahuge pay cut, but he went to
work doing.
Something in his skillset for aChristian university, and he is
loving it.
He feels like he's got a newlease on life in his late
fifties, and he told his wife,he said, I'll probably if, if
(31:54):
they'll have me, I'll work heretimes 70, because I love the
people.
I love the environment, I lovethe lack of pressure and.
Just knowing that I am addingvalue with the skillset God gave
me.
So those are some things that Iwould, I would say, I think it's
(32:15):
just about alignment.
Vona Johnson (32:16):
I really love that and I really, uh, relate to that
because I too took earlyretirement almost the minute I
could with a huge cut in pay andall of that.
And you know, people in some ofmy circles are like, retirement,
we can't use that word.
We gotta get rid of it.
We're, you know, we're rewiring,we're blah, blah, blah.
Well, some of us have workeddecades.
(32:38):
Investing into a retirement planand we should not let people
make us feel ashamed of the factthat we are retiring from a
career that we can be proud of.
But that doesn't mean that wecan't go on and create something
entirely different or entirelythe same.
We get to make it, and that'swhat's finishing well is all
about right?
(32:58):
Align your desires with thedesires that God has put in our
hearts and go do it.
Live life.
Beverly Smith (33:03):
Absolutely.
I'll add one more thing.
Vona.
Yes.
Um, and I had someone share thiswith me back when I was still in
staffing and, and I thought itwas, she was a, she's a mentor
of mine in the industry, but shetalked about how, the younger
boomers, generation X, we aregoing to still have.
(33:28):
So much value that we can add toa company and we may want to
retire, but there's a goodpossibility that you could go
back to work even for the samecompany or in the same industry
on a consulting basis, on apart-time basis, so that you
still are adding value.
(33:49):
It's a win-win for everyonebecause they're not having to
pay a high.
Salary, maybe you're alreadydrawing Social security, so you
can only draw, you know, earn somuch in order to keep that
social security or, or maybe youare able to take Medicare and so
you don't need insurancebenefits anymore.
(34:10):
There's just a lot of Yeah,items that you could negotiate
on whether you wanted to workfull or part-time and just know
that that is such an optionbecause some of those companies
are gonna be glad to see youback.
I think it's, it, it's kind of asad fact, but it's true.
We started, uh, planning ourfamilies in the early seventies.
(34:33):
Um, I came from a family offour.
I had one child who now has onechild, and they struggled to get
that one child.
We have an aging population.
There's a lot of opportunitystill there in corporate America
if you desire to be there or ina small business, if you desire
(34:55):
to be there, there is still alot of opportunity, just like
your friend that reached out toyou and you're gonna do some
filing.
I mean, you typically go, oh,why wouldn't you hire some
18-year-old to go and do that?
There's not an 18-year-oldthere.
Vona Johnson (35:13):
Exactly
Beverly Smith (35:14):
population.
You are going to be such a giftto wherever you go to work.
And if you will flip the switch,look at your.
What you have to offer as a giftand not get up all in your head
with self-doubt, right?
No one's gonna want me.
I'm too old.
(35:36):
They're gonna think this.
They're gonna, who are you toknow what they're gonna think?
So just, just some, some thingsand I'll get off my set box.
I
Vona Johnson (35:43):
can get off.
No, I love this.
I love it.
And, and you are absolutelyright.
We can talk ourselves out ofsome of the best things that God
brings to us.
So just keep, keep your mindopen to the suggestions.
I would've never.
I mean, if, if this gal had putan ad in the paper, I would not
have answered it because itwould not have even occurred to
me that I would be the personshe was looking for.
(36:06):
But she, what's really coolabout it is she is in her
seventies.
Oh.
And she's got this amazingbusiness.
This is a baby, right?
Well, and you know, and becauseI'm a retirement coach.
What's really cool is I can,while I'm there, I can help her
see how she can start pullingaway from the company and
(36:28):
releasing some of theresponsibilities.
So she's really getting abargain'cause she's getting a
retirement coach for, you know,so it's, it's just a beautiful,
a beautiful connection and onlyGod can make those kinds of
things.
Mm-hmm.
So just watch where he's movingin your life.
Beverly Smith (36:45):
Amen.
Sister,
Vona Johnson (36:47):
let's stop on that one.
Thank you so much, Beverly.
It's been such a joy.
Let's stay in touch.
Absolutely.
So, God bless.
Beverly Smith (36:54):
God bless.
So wasn't that wonderful?
Beverly had so many amazing tipsand suggestions for us, and I
hope that this has encouragedyou to step into God's call for
more, and that you will finishwell where you are, and then
step into the next season,whatever that might be for you,
with lots of joy and expectationfor what God's going to use your
(37:15):
talents and skills for.
I'll be back in two weeks withmore of courageous retirement.
Until then, be sure to engageyour faith and live your more as
you live in your courageousretirement.
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