Many accomplished leaders reach a moment where the career that once defined them suddenly falls away—through a layoff, an exit, or a quiet inner knowing that it’s time for something more. What follows can feel disorienting, humbling, and deeply personal.

In this episode, Janet Ioli and Jack Calhoun explore what happens when a professional identity dissolves and how to rebuild a meaningful next chapter rooted in wisdom, not ego.

Jack Calhoun is a former wealth management partner turned founder of Encore Career Lab. Drawing from lived experience and years of working with career-invested professionals, Jack shares why traditional retirement thinking no longer works and how our later years can become a powerful season of contribution, fulfillment, and reinvention.

In this episode:

✅ Why leaving a long career can trigger an unexpected identity crisis

✅ The difference between fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence

✅ How achievement culture shapes our sense of worth from childhood

✅ What an encore career really is

✅ How to find purpose, structure, and income in your next chapter

✅ Why community and connection are essential during reinvention

Connect with Jack:

https://www.encorecareerlab.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-calhoun-encore

Resources:

David Brooks' Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_brooks_the_lies_our_culture_tells_us_about_what_matters_and_a_better_way_to_live

From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks: https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Finding-Success-Happiness-Purpose/dp/B09T3TZ3GR

About Janet Ioli:

Janet Ioli is a globally recognized executive advisor, coach, and leadership expert with over 25 years of experience developing leaders in Fortune 100 companies and global organizations.

She created The Inner Edge—a framework, a movement, and a message that flips leadership from mere success performance to presence; from ego to soul. Through her keynotes, podcast, and programs, Janet helps high-achievers find the one thing that changes everything: the mastery within.

Her approach redefines leadership presence—not as polish or tactics, but as the inner steadiness people feel from you and the positive imprint you leave on individuals and organizations.

Chapters

00:00:00 Identity Beyond Titles

00:07:05 Achievement Conditioning

00:09:31 Wisdom Over Hustle

00:19:03 Designing Encore Work

00:26:59 Finding Meaning and Purpose

Connect with Janet Ioli:
Website: janetioli.com
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @leadershipcoachjanet

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

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Produced by Ideablossoms