“Sometimes we need a little help to know what we believe and to understand what we value.” - Harry S. Dent, Jr.

Psychologists have found that mid-life is typically a time when many of us take stock of our values and goals. There are many reasons for this. We attain a certain level of affluence through the combination of high earnings and a sudden drop in necessary family expenses as children leave the nest. We confront our mortality, either by taking care of ill or elderly parents or by seeing the inevitable aging in ourselves. Above all, retirement looms on the horizon as an expanse of freedom that many of us, working 8-to-5 jobs, have not known before. All of these reasons compel us to pause, reflect, and consider how we are going to live the rest of our lives.

While this may be a time for taking stock, many of us, paradoxically, need help realizing what we know. A good therapist or personal advisor, or a provocative question can help. For instance, Jim Collins, bestselling author of Built to Last, suggests one way of bringing our goals into focus. He asks “What would you do if you had ten years to live and 10 million dollars in the bank?”

Questions such as these should not be ignored for one simple reason. Average life expectancy has accelerated so rapidly in the last century that many of us will be “retired” for 20 or 30 years, and perhaps more. You should plan to live longer than your parents have—and to plan how you’re going to live those years.

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“Retirement is the greatest opportunity for pursuing our most cherished goals.”

To help plan your retirement, here are just two of the many questions to consider.

Where do I want to live?

For the first time in your life, you may no longer need a house that’s dedicated to family, located in a good school district, or a convenient distance from the office. Where have you always wanted to live? On an island? In the mountains? In a pied-à-terre downtown, near restaurants, museums and shops? The possibilities are endless, but you would be wise to consider long-term real estate trends in your decision.

What do I want to do?

Many of us reach middle age or beyond realizing we have sacrificed a part of ourselves to make a living. Is there a craft you want to pursue? A different business you’d like to start? A charitable organization you’d like to support with your time and money? Do you want to travel or study or both?

Exploring issues such as these takes time and care, but out of them will emerge a compelling vision for your future. And vision, as every great entrepreneur knows, is essential to creating the future you want.