Retirement sounds like freedom… until the phone stops ringing. Jim Burneka breaks down what life really feels like after you hang up your gear for the last time: better sleep, sure, but also the ego hit, the identity shift, and realizing the machine keeps rolling without you. This is a straight-up firefighter conversation about purpose, tribe, and why you have to start building a healthy retirement from day one on the job.

Expect to learn:

• How to avoid the “retire and disappear” trap when the firehouse moves on without you
• Why your ego takes a hit after retirement, and how to flip that into freedom
• What “happy and healthy career + retirement” actually means (not just a bumper sticker)
• How to build purpose before you need it, so retirement doesn’t wreck you
• Why most departments “check boxes” until someone dies—and how to lead change anyway

If you’re a firefighter who wants to retire strong but you’re worried about losing your identity, your people, or your edge... this one’s for you.

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