My Third Act: Launching Logan Advisory Services
My Third Act: Launching Logan Advisory Services
June 30, 2025 marked the last day of my 25-year tenure as an analyst at Gartner. I started preparing about 18 months before my departure. I was not thinking about “what I would do”. I was thinking about my identity post-Gartner: “who would I be?”
My research assistant and I did extensive research—interviews, data analysis, and secondary sources—initially thinking I would write a book. My literature search yielded a lot of material focused on financial readiness, which is a vital first step for anyone, of course. However, we found a glaring lack of resources on how to prepare emotionally and intellectually for the second half of a career.
The Untapped Potential of Experience
We also discovered a significant trend: many mid-to-late career professionals—those between the ages of 45 and 70—are seeking more satisfaction and meaning in their lives. These are individuals with deep expertise who want to ensure their skills are used to make a real difference, whether they are in full-time roles, semi-retired, or fully retired.
I am one of those people, and you might be too.
Yesterday, January 27, 2026 we launched Logan Advisory Services to help others achieve the fulfillment I’ve been fortunate to experience throughout my 40-year career: getting up every morning truly looking forward to the workday and leaving my desk every afternoon feeling that I had helped a client gain insight into their own aspirations and challenges.
Why Now?
The world is navigating a massive paradigm shift. Yes, AI is changing the business landscape and yes, there will be displacement of workers and the death of industries. That has happened in every massive technological shift from earliest recorded history. However, we still desperately need the full participation of all five generations in the workplace. We need workers and leaders with perspective—people who lead not solely for material gain, but for greater human happiness and the benefit of society at large. We need people who will define the future, not simply in technical or commercial terms. If we keep on with the formula of more + more + more = better… that’s unsustainable. What comes next? And aren’t we lucky to be alive right now to help it all unfold?
Midlife is a unique turning point. It is the time when you are ready to transition from management and individual contribution to true leadership. My core belief is that there are countless talented individuals whose time and skills are currently underutilized within their organizations.
Your Next Act
In my not inconsequential number years on planet earth, I’ve learned that it is never too late to find your purpose. The question of "why am I here?" is rarely answered in youth; it is a question for the experienced.
In my own transition, I’ve re-discovered the wisdom of Stoicism, which I was first exposed to as a liberal arts undergraduate. The playwright Seneca wrote:
"As it is with a play, so it is with life — what matters is not how long the acting lasts, but how good it is."
Whether you are looking for a new role, a new career path, or a meaningful transition into retirement, you have the opportunity to make this next phase your best one yet. You have the chance to leave a legacy and find a level of happiness and meaning in your life that wasn't possible before.
If you are ready for your next act, you are in the right place.
