When considering these questions, remember that what you are facing is not a life-and-death decision, it’s all about life. And know that you are not alone. Although many sales reps have become accustomed to representing principals, dealing with customers and selling goods or services, they find it very difficult to think about what they might want to do after repping. Here are some suggested focal points to help you think seriously about the possibility of retirement:

• Analyze your financial obligations and finances in order to determine whether you have enough on which to retire.

• Analyze your timing, in that no one wants to retire too early or too late — although certain folks like Gary Hart, Michael Jordan and Garth Brooks may have done both.

• Analyze the tradeoffs: think about the leisure pursuits you truly enjoy, the priceless rewards, the activities you have had too little time or opportunity in which to participate.

• Analyze the steps to an orderly transition of principals, customers, responsibilities, and relationships to a successor or to your partners and associates if you are part of an organization.

• Analyze if and how you might retain some structure and the deep sense of satisfaction that comes from staying involved with maintaining principal and customer relationships, and also by volunteering at charitable, religious, and other types of organizations on a regular basis as you ease or leap into your retirement.

Fear of the unknown, of ambiguity, of the forever after runs deep in most, if not all, of us. Remember though, that in moving away from being a working professional, you do not lose your identity, you simply change. Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi famously quipped, “The harder your work, the harder it is to surrender.”

Recognize, too, that it is not a sign of weakness to discuss these very common concerns that you don’t need to be running hard, toughing it out, going it alone. There are many articles and books to read about retiring from the rep business, employment professionals to consult, people who have blazed the trail with great dignity and great success to seek out for guidance.

Retirement is a process, not just a point in time or a passage. None of us wants to be a burden, at work or at home, but there is no crystal ball or magic moment or one way to go about it that’s right for everyone. There are many models, including those who close up their offices entirely and become active in trade, civic, social or philanthropic organizations; those who remain a part of their rep organization, continue to maintain their relationships and mentor others; and those who stay home and stay happy surrounded by family and friends (and golf).

Do what we often do best: start the process for yourself. Make lists. Weigh the pros and cons, the risks and rewards, the costs and benefits of retiring soon, at a future point, or not at all. Plan to make a choice, or more accurately a series of choices, about your retirement, just as you have done at every prior stage of your career.

Just don’t leave the timing to chance. Leontyne Price, upon her retirement from opera, said she preferred to leave standing up, like a well-mannered guest at a party. Others have indicated that the best time to start thinking about your retirement is before the boss does. Venture forth to figure out whether you desire or dread the transition, and plan accordingly.