What's Next . . . for You?: The Gussin Guide to Big Changes, Big Decisions, and Big Fun

by Robert Gussin and Patricia Gussin

Finalist - USA Best Book Award

Need Some Pointers in Making the Leap from the Working World to Retirement?

What's Next . . . For You? is the incredible story of Robert and Patricia Gussin, two retirees who watched with glee as long, successful careers in science and medicine gave way to writing, publishing, and winemaking. Much more than a memoir and anything but a how-to-start-a-business manual, What's Next...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933515732
• ISBN13: 9781933515731
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Take a Chance

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (06/10) Many of us are at the point that we are either tired of our current jobs or are looking down the road to retirement. Retirement doesn't mean you have to do nothing, it means looking outside the box and finding a passion you want to pursue. Robert and Patricia Gussin have given readers the spark to look for what they want to do when they quit that corporate job. Their enthusiasm and memories of how things just dropped in their lap, encourages readers to be fulfilled in their retirement years. Many of us do not just want to sit around and do nothing, we still want to learn and be active. This is not a book on "how to do it," but a great reading on how things sometimes just come our way and we need to think about taking a risk. The honesty and inspiration will certainly make readers think about what they like and confirm that many things in life are a risk. But would you be happy knowing you didn't take the chance? Many parts of the book will tell readers to do their research and most importantly network with those who are in the field they would like to experience. As a retiree now, I have found my passion in reading and doing reviews- did I ever think I could do it? No. But after almost five years I have found I can do it, because as the authors state, you need to believe in yourself. Certainly, many will have a drop in financial gain, but isn't it more important to be challenged and find new ways to invent yourselves? This is an easy to read and understand book. The authors addressed some of the pitfalls, but at the same time continue their spark in trying something new. Readers will find that the authors address, in their own experiences, concerns over finances, too much work and what if "I fail?" This is a great book and very motivational. If you are looking for a gentle push to get you going, "What's Next for You?" is the book for you.

Explores retirement activities and options

The authors encourage "thoughtful impulsiveness" in their guide to exploring retirement activities and options. The book is highly reader-friendly and very easy to follow. The Gussins both had highly demanding jobs in the field of science and medicine and opted to explore other avenues during a transitional period to retirement. Obviously, the couple have financial security in order to explore those options, but they are quick to suggest that lack of financial funding should not limit the hopes and dreams of the reader. The book is a mixture of memoir and transitional stages, in which both delineate their personal dreams and then use thoughtfulness and a bit of impulsiveness, setting forth on the path to the realization of those dreams. They suggest that retirement should be viewed as "graduation," but this reviewer believes that the term "transitional shifts" might pose as less stressful for the reader contemplating changes. The underlying theme is one of belief in self or personal efficacy, something that most pre-retirees can garner from their years of job service and training. Taking that sense of personal efficacy into the retirement years appears to be a combination of right-time, right-place and personal motivation. And yes, the guide is believable as attested to by this reviewer, who went from full-time homemaker to doctoral student to licensed clinical psychologist to author (following retirement). The book is an inspiration to those asking the question: What's next for me?

Readable, entertaining, meaningful

Although light, easy going, and a quick read, the book sneaks in quite a bit of meaning. Without any heavy-handedness, and told in the context of a sometimes self-depricating narrative, there are some really insightful perspectives on retirement ("graduation" as one of the authors doggedly calls it). It's sort of like having a dinner conversation with two very interesting, likable people--but when it's over you feel greatly enriched.

Retirement can be more fulfilling and exciting than you ever thought...

I'm not *quite* to the stage of retirement, but it's definitely getting to the point where I can make it out on the horizon. And my thoughts have started to wander to the "and what will I do next?" series of questions. Robert and Patricia Gussin have a book titled What's Next . . . For You?: The Gussin Guide to Big Changes, Big Decisions, and Big Fun that walks you through what they went through to answer that question... life decisions that weren't expected, but that they had the courage to embrace and run with. I can only hope that I'm willing to be open to those same types of opportunities that will no doubt come up for me also. Patricia is a physician and Robert was a chief scientific officer for a global firm in their professional lives. But like most couples that both have high-powered careers, the stress and time demands started wearing them down. Their adventures in following new paths began when they decided, mainly on a whim, to purchase some beach property in an area that they both enjoyed visiting. What was to be a "future investment" and eventual beachside cottage turned out to be a six bedroom home built shortly after they bought the property. So much for savings and no mortgage. But this habit of following and doing what they loved continued on. They ended up purchasing a small vineyard in New Zealand, as well as becoming authors and running a small independent book publishing company. In nearly all cases, they didn't know much of anything about what they were going to do, but they knew enough to ask for help and surround themselves with quality people. So now, at a time when most "retirees" would be slowing down and downsizing, they're living a life they love with never-ending adventures and opportunities. What's Next . . . For You? is not a "do this, do this, do this" type of methodology cookbook. In fact, you could almost label it a memoir of sorts. But what's important is their underlying message that opportunities and adventure are out there, and "retirement" does not have to mean playing bingo or bridge with your friends all day (assuming that's all you can afford to do). This book rekindled my desire to keep working on those things outside my chosen profession that make me happy as well as bringing in side income. There's a real chance that those activities could be parleyed into something more, something that would make my retirement far more exciting and fulfilling than my "regular job" ever was. Disclosure: Obtained From: Publicist Payment: Free

A compendium of sage insights and invaluable advice on how anyone can alter their own lives

Blending memoir with insights into the process of personal reinvention, "What's Next . . . For You? The Gussin Guide to Big Changes, Big Decisions, and Big Fun" is the story of the Gussins, a husband and wife who, after long successful professional career is in science and medicine respectively, retired to establish themselves in totally new occupations as writers, publishers, and even winemakers. In addition to their intrinsically fascinating autobiographies, "What Next For You?" is also a compendium of sage insights and invaluable advice on how anyone can alter their own lives to pursue a more fulfilling lifestyle or life goal. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "What Next For You?" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement reference collections and personal reading lists.