Not age but irrelevance is the new retirement! Aseem Dhru on Deloitte’s new ‘Golden Handshake’ program

• Deloitte India’s ‘Golden Handshake’ incentive, which is an early retirement proposal to its senior partners has raised many eyebrows.
• While everyone was arguing whether “55” might be the new age of retirement, Aseem Dhru, HDFC Senior Banker turned Founder & CEO at SBFC Finance shared a great perspective on LinkedIn. 
• His post resonated with thousands of people.

1. Relevance is key 

Aseem Dhru begins the post by addressing the ‘Golden Handshake’ Program; “They are removing those who have their past behind them… And adding those who have their future ahead of them.”

He then goes on to state how one’s seniority was measured earlier – Grey hair used to command respect, credibility, and deference, but the rules have changed.

Now seniors are concealing their age with cosmetic procedures and learning trendy vocabulary to keep up with the younger generation.

Aseem lets out an eye-opening truth… Retirees often miss the routines of work more than the money. As humans, we inherently “struggle for relevance” and meaning.

2. 50s are the new 20s

There are different attitudes people adopt in their 50s, Aseem observes.

Some feel disappointed at not achieving enough, others realize the futility of chasing shallow status symbols like fancy cars.

The healthiest perspective is acceptance and avoiding regret, he believes.

Aseem advocates building a “Version 2” in your 50s, finding your passion, and seizing opportunities.

The pain of having regrets is stronger than the pain of failure.

Your 50s can be a time for renewal, not resignation.

Also read: Ex-HDFC banker co-founded an NBFC almost 5 years after the idea first came to him; now has a team of 2500.

3. You can’t have it all

The sooner you understand it the more peaceful your life will become.

Success may come with failed relationships, children growing up without you, or parents ageing in your absence.

4. Cultivating wisdom

Aseem has stopped buying tickets to other people’s dramas, adopting the attitude of “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

He explains that aging well is about the transition “from being a noisy mountain stream in your teens to a deep, calm ocean” in later years.

If I were to give one piece of advice to my 30-year-old self, it would be, ‘We are all very differently wired and need to do what floats our boat. Would say Nike+Johnny Walker is great life advise……Just do it and Keep Walking.’ – Aseem Dhru.

5. Advice to people in their 20s and 30s

Aseem ends the post by quoting the wisdom of Buddha, “Time is a thief, slipping away,” denoting that the trouble lies in thinking one has ample time!

Closing…

In short, Deloitte’s decision highlights the new reality – adaptability trumps longevity.

You can counter irrelevance through lifelong learning, embracing new perspectives, and recognizing that experience is more valuable than age.

The antidote to forced retirement is continuing curiosity, graceful acceptance, and staying engaged on our terms.

What does Version 2 look like for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.