Turn Into The Swerve – Jerry Goodstein

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Retirement rarely unfolds exactly as planned.

For Jerry Goodstein, retirement began with a clear sense of direction and a meaningful endeavor. But unexpected challenges, a deeply emotional experience helping his daughter move across the country, and an encounter with the world of ADHD coaching changed everything.

In this conversation, Jerry shares how his retirement story became less about executing a blueprint and more about learning how to “turn into the swerve” by staying open to reinvention, purpose, lifelong learning, and becoming someone new later in life.

This is a thoughtful conversation about identity, letting go, service, and the surprising ways purpose can evolve, over time and in ways you may not expect, after retirement.

In This Conversation, You’ll Learn

Why God laughs at your retirement plans

How unexpected “swerves” can open new directions in life

The opportunities to repurpose your skills in retirement

Why letting go of identity is often difficult for high achievers

How lifelong learning can reignite energy, curiosity and engagement

What coaching taught Jerry about listening and presence

Why service became more important than living a life of leisure

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Bio

Jerry Goodstein is Professor Emeritus, Carson College of Business, Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship at Washington State University. Dr. Goodstein received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and his MBA and BA in Economics and Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles.

He conducted research and taught business ethics, leadership, and strategy at the undergraduate and graduate levels for over three decades at Washington State University and the University of Illinois. His research on restorative justice in organizations, corporate and stakeholder responsibility, and second chance hiring has been published in leading management and business ethics journals. He is co-editor, along with Dr. Mary Gentile, of Giving Voice to Values: An Innovation and Impact Agenda, published in 2021.

After retiring from Washington State University in May 2020, Dr. Goodstein continued work he had begun in 2019 to bring together businesses, criminal justice partners, and community-based organizations to develop employment-based opportunities for formerly incarcerated men and women. In January 2023 Dr. Goodstein made a major retirement/life shift to become a Certified ADHD Life Coach. He founded Where You Are ADHD after completing his ADHD life coaching program in December 2023. Since then, he has been coaching youth (teens and tweens) with ADHD. Dr. Goodstein partners with public and community-based organizations, especially those working with at-risk youth, to support both youth and their families in meeting the ADHD-related challenges they are facing in their lives.

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For More onn Jerry Goodstein

Where You Are ADHD

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Retirement Podcast Conversations You’ll Also Love

The Inspired Retirement – Nathalie Martin

The Best Day of My Life So Far – Benita Cooper

Changing the World One Small Act at a Time – Brad Aronson

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Wise Quotes

On Being Open to Reality

“There are just some unanticipated swerves that come up…Turn into the swerve…Don’t turn against it.”

On Becoming a Beginner Again

“It absolutely feels like a new beginning for me….“It’s never too late to learn. It’s never too late to evolve.”

On Purpose

“I don’t think of myself as retired anymore….I’ve repurposed my purpose.”

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About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own fi