• Kelly Benthall, 53, and her husband retired early and have been traveling since August.
• She realized that her life as a retiree requires the strategies she accrued throughout her career.
• Once a week, she meets with her husband to review finances, plan travel, and align priorities.

For over 30 years, I helped companies ranging from startups to giants like Shell and Chevron navigate strategic change. As a consultant, I focused on guiding organizations through uncertainty — always with a servant leadership mindset.

Now, in retirement, I'm no longer the guide but the one experiencing transformation firsthand. In my field, which was mostly focused on change management, there is a saying: "Drink your own Champagne." It's about practicing what you preach—not just in business but also in your personal life.

Retirement, for me, has become the ultimate "Champagne test," and I've discovered that embracing personal change is harder — and more rewarding — than coaching others through it.

Embracing change through slow travel

Last August, at 54, I retired early to explore the world. My husband Nigel and I have embraced slow travel. Leaving the boardroom for this adventure-filled lifestyle has tested our adaptability.

Nigel and I embraced slow travel to stretch ourselves. Our experiences in Spain and Croatia weren’t just fun; they were exercises in growth, resilience, and connection. This journey has taught us to embrace imperfection and explore life’s opportunities at a slower pace.

Making a difference through travel

Our travels are not just about personal growth; they also focus on leaving a positive mark wherever we go. Having guiding principles carries a familiar weight from my consulting days, where driving meaningful outcomes was key. We regularly hold weekly meetings to review our goals and priorities, ensuring our travels have impact. The need for vision, strategy, and impact remains essential, even in retirement.

Lessons from the Champagne test

Retirement has turned into a profound behavioral change initiative. This journey has brought me full circle, allowing me to redefine success, not by traditional metrics but by moments of curiosity, impact, and personal fulfillment. I've always enjoyed the occasional glass of Champagne, but now I’m learning to savor the metaphorical bubbly of life’s experiences, embracing every learning opportunity that comes our way.