George thought he was ready for retirement. After decades as a senior vice president of sales at a major pharmaceutical company, he imagined that stepping away from work would feel like freedom. Instead, it felt like a loss. Soon after retiring, he tried a part-time sales role to fill the gap, but it didn’t work out—and the deeper truth emerged: George hadn’t lost a job, he’d lost his sense of self.

Stories like George’s are common. People who’ve spent years defining themselves by one role—parent, executive, caregiver, breadwinner—often struggle when that role changes or ends. Empty nesters who’ve seen themselves only as parents suddenly feel unmoored. Retirees who talk about their past identity struggle because they never cultivated hobbies, relationships, or passions outside work. When a single role becomes the whole story, life transitions can feel like erasure instead of evolution.

The Danger of the “One-Role Life”

Modern life often pressures us to pour everything into one identity: the career climb, the parenting years, the caretaker duties. While focus can bring success, it’s risky when we fail to nurture other dimensions of ourselves. When that one role shifts—kids grow up, careers end, partners pass away—the result can be loneliness, aimlessness, and even depression.

But there’s a different way to live, one that aligns with the Age Brilliantly mindset: view yourself as multi-faceted, not single-threaded. That’s where the idea of Diamond Leadership comes in.

Diamond Leadership: Embracing Your Many Facets

Like a diamond, every person has multiple sides—roles, passions, relationships, and values that reflect different parts of who we are. At any given time, one facet might shine brighter: parent, professional, volunteer, partner, learner, creator. But the strength of a diamond is that all facets exist together. Lose one? The others still shine. And over time, you can add new facets—exploring fresh passions, careers, and relationships that make life richer and more resilient.

Seeing yourself this way changes everything. It means you’re never just “retired,” “a mom,” or “a CEO.” You’re a whole person: a traveler, reader, mentor, friend, pet lover, learner, and much more. When one chapter ends, the others remain, ready to sustain and inspire you.

Building Multi-Faceted Identities Before Transitions

The best time to avoid an identity crisis is before a major life shift. Start asking: What are my other facets? What else lights me up besides my primary role? If work ended tomorrow, or the kids left home, what would I turn to for purpose and joy? The answers don’t have to be grand—they can be as simple as joining a hiking group, rekindling an old hobby, volunteering, or exploring a new learning path.

This isn’t just about surviving transitions—it’s about thriving through them. In a world of constant change—where careers evolve, technologies disrupt, and personal circumstances shift—being multi-faceted ensures you stay adaptable, curious, and fulfilled.

Why It Matters for a 100-Year Life

As lifespans stretch toward 100 years, the old model of one career followed by one retirement no longer works. Many of us will have multiple careers, evolving passions, and new life stages that our parents never imagined. Those who cling to one identity risk struggling with every transition. Those who cultivate many roles, interests, and relationships will find themselves resilient, curious, and continually fulfilled.

A Call to Reflect

What are the facets of your life right now? Are you leaning too heavily on one? What passions or relationships could you nurture today that might sustain you tomorrow? The time to build those layers isn’t later—it’s now.

Share your thoughts in theAge Brilliantly Forum: Which facets define you today? Which ones do you want to develop to prepare for a more fulfilling tomorrow?