“Companies today aren’t managing their employees’ careers. It’s up to you to carve out your “place, to know when to change course, and to keep yourself engaged and productive during a work life that may span 50 years.”

That’s how the 2005 Best of Harvard Business Review summarized an article written by Peter Drucker in 1999, “Manage Oneself.” Drucker said that at 45, most executives have reached their peak and are bored. Though they are very good at their jobs, many are not learning and are no longer challenged. Yet they are likely to have another 20-25 years of work. So managing oneself often leads one to begin a second career.

Because the second half of life arrives sooner than we think, planning for it is critically important.

A few years ago, I became certified as a Sage-ing Leader through the Sage-ing Guild. The program is based on the book “From Aging to Sage-ing: A Profound Vision of Growing Older,” by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald Miller. The focus of sage-ing is on the internal work so that instead of just getting older, we become elders. We become wise based on life experience.

The main principles of sage-ing include:

• Exploring images of aging.

• Engaging in life review and reflecting on life experience.

• Repairing and healing relationships.

• Embracing our own mortality.

• Leaving a legacy for future generations.

Another interesting movement to help lead oneself in the second half of life is based on Dan Buettner’s book “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest.” Iowa has created the Healthiest State Initiative based on the Blue Zones research. According to the 2010 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Iowa is No. 19 in the nation when it comes to being physically, emotionally and mentally healthy. The Healthiest State Initiative has a goal and plan for Iowa to claim the No. 1 spot by 2016.

The Blue Zone “Power Nine” characteristics have a lot in common with the sage-ing principles. Both emphasize internal and external work. Though you need to take care of your body, you also need to take care of your soul. In fact, the second half of life is the time to find a role that feeds your soul. This may be an encore career, or it may mean re-engaging in your present career.

We have work to do if we are going to be healthy for the rest of our lives. Becoming a sage and living a quality long life is not based on intellect or money and usually does not happen naturally. We need to be intentional and proactive.

Baby Boomers are not going to retire, but we will be moving on. So what do you want to move on to, now that you realize you are already in the second half of life? You can decide if you take charge of your life.

Jann Freed is a leadership author, trainer and coach.