Episode 820 • January 5, 2026 • 27 min
How to Redesign Your Business Model and Find New Meaning in Later Career Stages Featuring Kenneth Gorfinkle
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Kenneth Gorfinkle is a clinical psychologist and owner of Common Sense Therapy, a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan. His career transitioned from decades of work with medical patients in hospitals to a full-time private practice in 2016. As his own practice slowly winds down, he finds himself caring for many individuals at the late stages of their careers. Retirement has become an outmoded idea, now that there are myriad ways to stay engaged in meaningful work.
In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to navigate late-career transitions while maintaining your sense of identity, purpose, and self-worth beyond the paycheck.
Ken and I discuss:
- The differences between mid-career job loss and late-career transitions [03:02]
- The advantages of gradually winding down versus stopping abruptly [04:36]
- How accumulated wisdom and experience add value in later career stages [06:04]
- Connecting your identity to your wisdom rather than your work [08:00]
- The fear and anxiety people face when approaching retirement [09:14]
- Strategies for finding meaning beyond work [11:34]
- How to address financial fears and planning [13:37]
- Ways to transition your business model as you wind down [18:51]
- The importance of community and intentional friendships [24:06]
Learn more about Kenneth at www.commonsensetherapy.com
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About Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.
Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.
Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.
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