In a recent conversation I heard a phrase I had never heard before: formerly important people, or FIPs. Interesting, I thought. Upon googling the phrase, I found a slight modification, previously important people, PIPs.
FIPs or PIPs may have a difficult time becoming not so important when they retire, so I did a little research.
There has not been much written on the subject, but Forbes published an article entitled The Growing Epidemic of Previously Important People (PIPs) and How to Overcome It that is a tongue-in-cheek discussion of how to provide, for a fee of course, helpful hints that a PIP is still important; hundreds of emails, a calendar full of meetings, and a ‘crisis of the month club.’
Most interesting to me is the supposed definition of what or who is important.
A CEO of a large company is important to the health and finances of the company and its employees, as are CFOs, COOs, CIOs, and VPs of organizations, and owners of small businesses. Leaders of non-profits, churches, and volunteer organizations are also important to those who follow them. These people are used to calling the shots. People listen to them and do what they ask. They are important.
The question is, are they any less valuable when they retire? Am I less important because I’ve never been a CEO or a PIP?
It depends on one’s definition of important.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, important is defined as:
1: marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
2: giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance
Those in leadership positions naturally get accustomed to a feeling of self-importance. When they retire, it may take them a while to adjust to being just themselves without all the obvious signs that they are important. PIPs know that phony email messages, a calendar full of fake commitments, and manufactured crises only mean that they are pretending to be important.
Importance is a morally neutral word; it can be positive or negative. There are many historical figures who did important but awful things, either intentionally or without realizing the impact of their decisions, and the same can be said of important people today. Time will tell if their contributions to the world are to be praised or condemned.
What is really important?
The website CareerAddict published an article covering the 20 Most Important Things in Life and they do not include emails, meetings or crises. Instead, health, family, friends, love, purpose, among others, are noted. As we get older, we realize that the world’s definitions of importance, celebrity and influence aren’t as important as they seemed.
Those who are in history books, who have made significant marks on the world, who have made billions of dollars or have tens of thousands of Instagram followers will end up in the same place as those who have lived quiet unassuming lives.
One day we will all meet our maker, and only he can tell us how important we are.
We are all created in God’s image, he has no favorites, we all have potential, and he wants us to use what he’s given us for the good of those around us and for his glory. For some, using their abilities will lead to tremendous importance, but others may use their gifts in quieter, more subtle, ways. They may never be important to the wider world, but they are important to God.
Retirement can be a gift to those who thought their significance was measured by the other important people that they knew or the number of people who depended on them only to find out that they are important simply as themselves. It must be a tremendous relief to know that their importance is given to them by God and that there is nothing they can do to change that stunning fact.
As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. Galatians 2:6
Retirement is an opportunity to reevaluate importance and come to terms with what makes us happy, fulfilled, and important. Previously important people are no less important when they retire than they were before and those who have never held important positions are just as important as those who thought themselves important.
In this world, some people are important. They have gained wealth, power, many people depend on them, and they have countless emails, meetings and crises. Some people will use that importance to further their own wealth, status, and power, and others will understand where it came from and serve God and others.
God knows that we can do nothing of value on our own and that everything we have the power to do is the result of blessings he has showered on us. What’s really important? Using what God has given you to glorify him and serve others. Anyone can accomplish that, and the world and God will appreciate your importance.
Have you known any previously important people? If you’re retired, has it been difficult to let go of the emails, meetings and crises since you’ve retired?
Four in the morning and I’m waiting for a plane, Judy. Starting the day with your thoughtful post and with eyes and heart on the loving Evaluator of our worth. Thanks. :)
Love this. Interestingly, I also struggled somewhat when my husband retired because I felt "important" because of his career. Funny, huh? I've only recently realized how I relied on this for my own worth. I was so proud of his abilities, his responsibility to carry hundreds of people in a jet at 35,000 feet to safety on the ground. And then he was finished. And this part of MY own value diminished. So silly. But real. That might be an interesting exploration for you too. Or maybe you have done this already? How do spouses feel important in light of their partner's work and then retirement? Thanks for all your words.