Unexpected Experiences

Jerry Lopper coaches others to find professional, personal fulfillment

Retirement is the time to relax in a rocking chair and revel in sweet memories of days gone by, right?

Not for Pickerington resident Jerry Lopper.

After his retirement following almost 35 years in telecommunications engineering, Jerry, 74, created an entirely new career as a life coach and author, and he encourages other retirees to follow their dreams, too.

Jerry and his wife of 42 years, Sandi, have three sons and three grandchildren, with a fourth grandchild on the way. Pickerington community residents since 1973, the Lopper family grew up as the area changed from a quiet, rural village to a bustling, suburban city.

Jerry is not just comfortable with change; he embraces it. But this, he says, wasn’t always the case.

As an engineer for Western Electric, which later became AT&T, Jerry focused on doing technical jobs well. When he was promoted to management, he found, to his surprise, that his new position required a different skill set.

Faced with the need to motivate and support his staff, Jerry confronted an entirely new set of questions.

In the 1980s, he earned an MBA, focusing much of his study on psychology. He became fascinated with the way people think and the way they view themselves and their lives. Before Jerry retired, a new executive came into his line of supervision and advocated a management style that was more like coaching than management.

“It felt right. I knew it was the right way to do things. That path of observing myself and others – what felt good and right – evolved into this idea of expanding beyond technical accomplishment,” he says.

Following his retirement in 1996, Jerry, who became a certified life coach, began publishing through the online freelance magazine site Suite101, where he became a feature writer for the personal development section. He also has self-published three books and written a series of

Personal Development Courses

that are available through his website, www.purposefulgrowth.com. He makes appearances as a motivational speaker and leads personal development workshops.

Jerry encourages retirees to grasp the opportunity to create fulfilling second careers.

“When you’re fortunate enough to have resources,” he says, “you have the luxury to do … what you love.”

Like Jerry, many people will find their new callings in unexpected places.

“I didn’t really decide on this,” Jerry says. “It found me. Your niche will find you.”

Brenda Layman is a contributing writer. Comments and feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.