George Jerjian · July 31, 2026

Retirement Mindset Mentor, Creator of The DARE Method® Author and Speaker
12 Award-winning books authored30 days Silent retreat that sparked his reinvention52 Age when a diagnosis led him to semi-retireDARE Method® Reinvention framework created
George Jerjian is a retirement mindset mentor who helps people rebuild meaning and direction after full-time work ends. Early in his work with retirees, he noticed a pattern. Most people prepare hard for the financial side of retirement, then get blindsided by what money cannot organise. There is instability when a job title disappears, and there is opportunity in the space it leaves behind. George calls that turning point the Identity Renaissance, and it sits at the heart of everything he teaches.
George did not arrive at this work from theory. At 52, he received a life-threatening diagnosis that led him to semi-retire. When the diagnosis proved wrong, he expected life to snap back into place. Instead, he spent years drifting, restless and uncertain, and surprised by how disorienting freedom can feel when identity has been tied to a role. A 30-day silent retreat became the reset. It gave him the pause to listen, follow his intuition, and eventually unretire, choosing a more intentional second act.
That lived experience became a framework. George created the DARE Method® to guide people through reinvention in later life, moving from confusion to clarity with practical steps and grounded self-inquiry.
In this episode of Business Influencers, host Chris Salem welcomes George Jergian, retirement mindset mentor, creator of the DARE Method, and author of The Odyssey of an Elder.
After surviving a life-threatening diagnosis, George discovered that the biggest challenge in retirement isn't financial—it's rebuilding identity, purpose, and meaning.
Together they discuss:
Why retirement has no playbookThe hidden identity crisis many people experienceWhy purpose matters more than everThe DARE Method for navigating life's next chapterHow to embrace reinvention with courage instead of fearWhether you're approaching retirement or simply navigating a major life transition, this conversation offers practical wisdom for creating a fulfilling second act.
Guest:George Jerjian//www.linkedin.com/in/georgejerjian/
Host: Chris Salem https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophersalem/
Sound: Mahesh R.
Producer: Archita Puranik
Guest: George Jerjian
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The Aging Well PodcastUnretire with Purpose: Rethinking Retirement for a Longer Life | George Jerjian | Ep. 384Apr 2026Play episode →
Retire TodayDARE to Re-Think Retirement with George JerjianMar 2026Play episode →
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a StoryGeorge Jerjian's 80-Day Trip Around the World (and the Retirement Mindset Shift It Sparked)Feb 2026Play episode →19+ podcast & stage appearances. Remote or in studio, broadcast-grade audio.