Next Chapter Dialogues: The Origin Story
Many of Next Chapter Dialogues meetings start with a personal story that introduces the topic for the session. Something like this:
A while back I watched a fantastic documentary, appropriately called “STEVE!”, about Steve Martin, the actor and comedian and all ‘round renaissance guy. In it, he describes a dream he once had.
A mysterious woman takes him to an open, grassy field to show him his grave which happens to be open. In it, he sees his skeleton and notices that it has a big smile on its face.
This prompts him to ask the woman if this means “it’s possible to die happy?”
“Yes,” she says, “it is.”
“What do I need in order to die happy?”, he asks.
“Adventure.”, she says.
“You mean like seeing waterfalls, and touring the world?”
Her response? “No. People.”
When I heard that, it struck me that that’s what Next Chapter Dialogues is all about. Having small adventures through conversation with people. New people. People you haven’t met yet. People whose perspectives might be different than yours. People who you will get to know and trust through this series of conversations. People who are on the same journey as you. A retirement journey.
How Next Chapter Dialogues Came to Be
When I started as a retirement coach, I set about doing what I was trained to do: coaching individuals one-to-one. But I had this feeling I was meant to be doing something different. Something I would really LOVE doing. And let’s face it, at this age and stage don’t we all want to spend most of our time doing things we love?
Next Chapter Dialogues is that something different and I love what it’s become. Of course, it didn’t come from nothing.
In truth, it’s just another iteration of something I’ve been compelled to do most of my adult life – bring people together to have fun, share ideas, reconnect, network, learn, or just enjoy each other’s company.
It’s an odd compulsion for an introvert, I’ll admit. What drives it is knowing through experience the potential for magic to happen when people come together – particularly in an inviting space, for a well-planned experience designed to encourage meaningful interaction and great conversation.
My goal with Next Chapter Dialogues is to create that magic weekly for myself and everyone who chooses to join me on Zoom for carefully curated conversations about navigating the retirement journey.
While that’s MY goal, I only achieve it because of the other people in the room.
I might establish the space, bring an agenda that prompts reflection and comment, and then facilitate the flow of dialogue, but it’s the people in the space do the rest. They find their way to having a meaningful experience and getting what they need out of it. I help them do that by getting out of their way.
A Simple Idea with Surprisingly Profound Outcomes
I learned this first with the pilot group that tested my concept. They consistently gave 4 and 5 star reviews after each meeting and frequently told me how much they were getting out of the conversations. I was gobsmacked by such a strong response and convinced I was on to something that needed to be out in the world.
I am even more convinced since officially launching Next Chapter Dialogues in late 2024. Navigating the retirement journey with a flexible guide and a group of people who start out as strangers and become friends is not just more fun but profoundly transformative.
I hope I’ve tweaked your interest enough to book a Discovery Call with me to find out more about Next Chapter Dialogues and whether it might just the thing you need right now.