I’ve been getting that question a lot lately. And clearly at 38 I’m way too young to be retired.

(Fine… it’s 52, but I like to average my actual and emotional age.)

At first, the question made me anxious — like I needed a clear, simple answer: “I work in X role at Y company.”

I’ve joked about being a “man of leisure,” but that just annoys my wife and, honestly, it’s not the truth.

The truth is: I’m really enjoying the freedom. I’m exploring interesting projects — investing, advising, speaking — and I’m in no rush to box it into a tidy job title.

So why the anxiety? I realized it’s not about lacking a business card answer. It’s about purpose.

For more than 20 years as Founder & CEO at Acuity, I had a crystal-clear mission:

• Build world-class financial functions for innovative entrepreneurs.

• Create the best workplace possible for accountants.

Now, with that chapter behind me, the next one is fuzzier. Is my role to:

• Invest in innovators shaping the profession?

• Support younger entrants in accounting?

• Build something brand new?

Maybe it’s all of those. Maybe it’s none.

Either way, I’ve stopped overthinking the “How’s retirement?” question. My answer now is simple: “I’m not done yet — and I’m having the time of my life figuring out what’s next.”

And I’d love to hear from you:

How have you navigated new freedoms in your career?

Or… got any ideas for what I should be doing with mine?

Photo: Post-exit trip with the fam to Japan