Don't Wait Until Retirement to Build a Life with Jacqueline M. Baker

Retirement gives you more time—but do you actually know what brings you joy? In this episode, we build on Marc's retirement journey by focusing on a powerful question many people avoid: What do I truly enjoy? Because having time isn't enough—without clarity, it's easy to fall into boredom, distractions, or old habits. We break down the difference between pleasure, happiness, and deeper, more lasting joy—and explore how to intentionally design your life around what energizes and fulfills you. From rediscovering old interests to creating a simple "joy blueprint," this episode offers practical ways to stop drifting and start choosing how you spend your time.

What if the life you're waiting to enjoy in retirement (or in your next transition)… is one you could start building today? In this episode of Just Start: Get Visible, we challenge the idea that fulfillment begins after your career ends. Inspired by Marc's intentional transition in episode #254, this conversation is for anyone who's been postponing joy, connection, and personal growth for "someday." Because retirement doesn't create a meaningful life—it reveals what's already there. We explore how to start building a life beyond work right now by cultivating hobbies, strengthening relationships, and redefining what productivity really means. From developing a "life portfolio" to creating community outside the workplace, this episode offers practical ways to feel more whole—long before retirement.

This episode challenges a powerful but often invisible barrier: many people don't get visible because they've tied their identity to a title, role, or organization. So when that title shifts or disappears, they feel unsure of what they actually have to say or offer. Building on Marc's retirement story from episode #254 (listen at jacquelinembaker.com/254), this conversation invites listeners to separate who they are from what they do and to recognize that visibility starts with identity clarity, not job titles. Because for many aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals, the hesitation to "get visible" isn't about strategy—it's about identity. It's about wondering: We will reframe visibility as an identity-first practice. You don't become visible because you have a title, you become visible because you have perspective, lived experience, and something meaningful to contribute.  I'll explore... 1. The Title Trap 2. Identity Before Visibility 3. Why People Stay Invisible 4. Building a Voice Without a Title 5. Visibility as a Practice (Not a Performance) It's your turn to Just Start: Get Visible! #juststart

What does it mean to truly retire on your own terms? In this episode, I'm joined by Marc Baker, who shares his journey from a nearly three-decade government career to full retirement in his early 50s. Rather than being pushed out by frustration, Marc made a deliberate, well-planned decision to step away—choosing peace of mind over continued income. We discuss the importance of mindset in major life transitions, why having interests and community outside of work is critical, and how intentional planning shapes a more fulfilling retirement. Marc also opens up about adjusting to a life without a set schedule and what he's focusing on in this next chapter. This conversation is a powerful reminder that retirement isn't just about leaving work—it's about building a life you actually want to live.

In this episode of Just Start: Get Visible, I'm reframing self-care as more than a moment—it's an infrastructure. One that supports how you lead, how you show up, and how you grow. Because the truth is, visibility and professional growth require energy, clarity, and consistency—and none of that happens by accident. I'm breaking down what it looks like to intentionally build a personal wellness infrastructure that actually sustains you. Not surface-level routines, but practical systems that support your life and leadership in real time. If you've been trying to grow, lead, and get visible while running on empty, this episode will help you start differently—so you can build something that lasts. Core Subtopics 1. Redefining Self-Care as Infrastructure, Not Indulgence Self-care isn't a reward—it's a requirement. I'll walk through how to shift your mindset from occasional "treat yourself" moments to building foundational systems that support your daily performance, decision-making, and leadership capacity. 2. Identifying the Non-Negotiables That Sustain You What are the few things that, when done consistently, change everything? We'll explore how to identify your personal baseline—whether it's rest, movement, quiet time, or boundaries—and how to anchor those into your routine so they actually happen. 3. Creating Systems That Support Consistency (Even When Life Gets Busy) Growth doesn't come from intensity—it comes from consistency. I'll share how to build simple, realistic structures that allow your self-care to stick, even in demanding seasons, so your visibility and professional growth don't come at the expense of your well-being.

In this episode of Just Start: Get Visible, I sit down with Matt, founder of Jafe Cycling, who shares his powerful pivot from fiber optic engineering to entrepreneurship during the 2020 pandemic. What started as helping neighbors fix bikes quickly evolved into a purpose-driven business rooted in listening, community, and connection. Matt breaks down how his past experiences shaped his "secret sauce" for success, the intentional culture he's building through his shop, and how visibility can start with simply showing up—like joining a local ride. We also explore his bigger vision: using cycling as a pathway for youth development, wellness, and opportunity. Plus, Matt gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the anatomy of a high-end bike and the tech that's transforming the riding experience.

And, here we go! It's quite exciting to release this episode of the podcast, focused on sampling yourself! We're going to learn about how to use the power of Sampling Yourself to leverage our own experiences and start the things that we want to do, by using what we already have. Ready? Let's get started!

This milestone 250th episode of Just Start: Get Visible is a celebration of the journey—choosing courage over comfort, embracing imperfect action, and amplifying voices along the way. In this special episode, I take some time to reflect on the lessons I've learned from building businesses, writing books, launching this podcast, and helping others step into leadership and visibility. What started as a simple idea—just start—has grown into hundreds of conversations with founders, leaders, and professionals who chose to begin before they felt ready. Through personal stories and a little "show and tell," I share some of the experiences that shaped my journey—from launching my first company more than 20 years ago, to building Scarlet while working a corporate role, to evolving this very podcast into what it is today. If you've ever wondered what can happen when you decide to simply start, this episode is proof that progress doesn't require perfection—it requires action. Key Moments in This Episode 00:00 – Celebrating the 250th episode and the journey of Just Start: Get Visible 02:20 – Leaving my corporate role after building my business on the side for years 05:40 – My first company: starting an event planning business on a whim 08:30 – Why the skills from your past roles still matter today 10:10 – Building Scarlet and the importance of people, consistency, and accountability 13:50 – How I finished my first book Leader by Mistake using a "forcing function" 17:10 – Launching the podcast and why I eventually rebranded it 19:20 – The importance of consistency when building a platform 22:30 – Writing my second book The Unexpected Leader and the power of sharing your dreams 24:40 – Making it easier for people to support your work 26:40 – The evolution of the Manor Box and why timing sometimes matters 30:40 – Final reflections and encouragement to keep starting

In this episode, Sarah Glenn, Founder and CEO of Completely returns to the podcast to share how her career originally evolved from aspiring lawyer to entrepreneur. Drawing confidence from her commission-based recruiting background, she embraced a "bet on myself" mindset when building her business. Though she dislikes the administrative and financial burdens of entrepreneurship—and even faced a major tax-preparer error early on—she overcame these challenges by building a strong support team. Sarah's proudest growth over the past three years is in how she speaks to and treats herself, noting the ripple effect on her business, health, and overall well-being. She now maintains a comprehensive self-care system that includes a chiropractor, acupuncturist, therapist, coach, energy healer, and nutritionist. This milestone episode was such a joy to record and it is filled with laughter, learning and endless lessons. You're invited to just start and get visible in a way the feels right for you and we hope that this episode inspires you to do just that!

Starting sounds simple… until it's time to actually do it. In Episode 248, Jacqueline gets honest about something that often hides beneath our ambitions, ideas, and good intentions: the courage it takes to begin. We may talk about "just starting" all the time, but the reality? Stepping away from comfort—even comfortable stuckness—requires bravery. And in this episode, Jacqueline breaks down what that courage really looks like, how to build it, and how to use it in a way that feels honest and sustainable. This conversation is another "grandbaby" of the rich dialogue with Dallas Gordon in Episode 245, where the theme of multiple beginnings and evolving identities sparked this deeper dive. Inside this episode, you'll explore: 1. You Can Start Over—More Than Once You're not tied to old stories, old paths, or old roles. Jacqueline shares real examples (including from Dallas' many "lives") showing why new beginnings are not a sign of instability—they're a sign of permission. 2. Starting From Scratch Isn't Failure—It's Strategy Whether you're launching something new, restarting after a pause, or finally stepping into visibility, "scratch" isn't empty. You bring experience, wisdom, and tools that make each beginning stronger. 3. Fear, Uncertainty, and Imposter Syndrome Don't Disqualify You They make you human. You can take action with butterflies in your stomach. You can decide with imperfect information. Courage isn't the absence of fear—it's movement despite of it. This episode closes out a month inspired by Episode 245 with Dallas Gordon—an exploration of beginnings, reinvention, and visibility. If you missed that conversation, catch it at JacquelineMBaker.com/245. Next month kicks off with a powerful new visibility conversation and continues with three in-depth solo episodes to help you get visible in ways that align with who you truly are. Let this episode be your reminder: starting isn't easy—but you're worth the experience.