Post-Surgery Leadership Reflection: Why I Chose Not to Retire

After undergoing a major heart surgery (I dodged a bullet), many would expect the next chapter to be about stepping back from work.

I did, too, although briefly: only for four months to be functional for work again.

But clarity came. And with it, intention.

In this excerpt from THE BYPASS FILES: Hasan’s Lessons From His Surgery, I talk about redefining work not as something to exit, but something to refine.

It’s not retirement I needed — it was realignment.

I want to continue coaching, guiding, and serving — but with more focus.

Less quantity, more quality. Less rush, more impact.

This shift in perspective isn’t just about me. It’s about how we, as leaders, reframe legacy, contribution, and meaning in our later seasons.

Watch the above short clip.

🎥 Here’s the full version: