Where are they now? Q&A with former Media Super CIO Jon Glass on his new venture

I really modelled it on my own behavior. What I mean is that when I stopped full-time work I found that the move into part-time work created anxiety that I couldn't understand at first. On reflection, it was caused by a loss of meaning. The simple fact is that a working life infused me with a lot of meaning. This is also true for other people.

I have done training in coaching at various institutions and that gives me the confidence to coach clients into their own fulfilling and happy retirements. I enjoy listening to peoples' stories and struggles - for coaching, if nothing else, is all about careful listening - in the hope that I can genuinely help them to find their own solution to their particular issues in retirement.

"I can't stress this enough, when you retire you leave work behind and you have to start afresh to develop your meaning or as the Japanese word ikigai suggests: your reason to get out of bed each." day.

Apart from the training I mentioned above, I have had decades of experience dealing with boards of directors, committees and individuals in an investment context. That involves listening and the development of listening skills. I would add that my analytical skills count for nothing in this new environment, but I rejoice in the opportunity to develop softer skills.

"The sessions are very practical and aim at helping the client to formulate a plan, activities and a mindset in their retired years."

The business is called 64PLUS and it is exclusively devoted to retirement coaching. What is that I can hear you ask? Firstly, it's not financial planning, rather it addresses the emotional aspects of retirement. This is critical, given that most people retire only once, and also have fixed, untested ideas about what retirement means ("you become useless", "you have nothing to offer the world"). I maintain that, with the appropriate thought processes, these myths can be exploded, leading to a rewarding next phase of life.

My aim is to help the individual - through six one hour sessions - gain a measure of what will suit them (in general terms) in their retirement. The essence is the location of personal meaning in retirement, something you had plenty of at work, yet that loss of meaning - when you no longer need to get up and go to work each day - has the potential to turn to desperation. The sessions are very practical and aim at helping the client to formulate a plan, activities and a mindset in their retired years.

I can't stress this enough, when you retire you leave work behind and you have to start afresh to develop your meaning or as the Japanese word ikigai suggests: your reason to get out of bed each day.

Not really, they can come from anywhere: via financial planners, corporations or the general public. There is a preponderance of men, but I think that reflects the world of work as it is today and will change over time. However, I do have female clients. The age range for clients is typically late 50s to early 70s.

To continue from the previous question, I would cite two differences, and please let me make some broad generalisations here. Women are more likely than men to have a coterie of friends that they have maintained over time. This aspect of sociability can be very helpful and we know it can become harder to make friends as we age. Moreover, men are more likely to have spent a lot of their time working hard to the detriment of the development of other aspects of their personality and capabilities.

I wrote a play, my first, a project that stretches back 20 years; but it was only in retirement that I was able to dedicate many, many hours to its realisation. I produced it myself and it was performed by professional actors, with the final night a sellout. I believe that my family and friends enjoyed themselves. That is why I wrote it.