It’s Monday; can’t wait for Friday.
It’s 9:00 AM; can’t wait for 5.
It’s May; we want July.
September; bring on December.
Why the rush? Why treat life like a race—like a series of ever-alluring finish lines?
What’s wrong with now?
Nowhere is this ceaseless eagerness for the finish line more prevalent than in our careers.
We’re eager for promotion; anxious for vacation.
We anticipate a raise; almost demand a break.
And the most wistful wish for the finish line is shown by those anticipating retirement.
People, I have a suggestion;
Work so it feels like play
Play at something every day
Enjoy each day you’re alive
And live like there’s no finish line.
Because, the only true finish line that looms
Is the one that none is eager for.
Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.
People write to ask, “Why bother? Why bring up all this stuff?” Or to suggest, “You’re swimming against the current, mate.”
All of which, I suppose, is fair game.
All of which, I suppose, gives me the opportunity to suggest that whether you jump out of bed—eager to start the day (which is one of my informal barometers of success, by the way, in case you’re interested).
Or whether you drag yourself out of bed, ruing another long, dreary, mundane day.
Whether it’s one or the other. I’ve got some ideas, some suggestions. Some theories.
That’s why I’m doing this.
Oh, and one other reason.
A reader sent me this note about the book.
All of which means, I suppose, getting just one note like that makes it—for me—all worthwhile.
Oh, notice that last part? The one that suggests talking about it?
That’s why, I suppose, I’m doing those workshops I described elsewhere on this blog.
This is the last of 5 facts I’m presenting to business owners and working folk on May 14.
Fact No 5: Retirement? Really?
The myth goes… Work hard, salt away money. Because… retirement will make it all worth it.
The fact is, retirement may not resemble the idyllic existence those commercials portray. The fact is, your retirement won’t be rife with fun-filled days lolly-gagging on a beach, warm tropical breezes on the 18th green, or romantic sunsets as you quaff Dom from your sailboat’s foredeck.
The fact is, you really won’t be doing any of that. At least not always. At least not even semi-regularly. The fact is, no matter how tidy your retirement fund, you’ll probably spend a lot of time at home. The fact is, retirement may see you wondering what to with those long, repetitive days. Don’t believe it? Ask Michael Schumacher.
The fact is, those bucolic depictions are a fabrication—a marketing program. The fact is, retirement is a myth. The fact is, if you don’t now have an itch for travel, a yen for golf, or the jones for sailing, there’s an even lesser chance that you will in 20 or 30 years. And the fact is, many people are too young for retirement, ending up, quite simply, bored.
The fact is, if you hate your job, not having to punch in every day will be the best thing about retirement. The opposite fact is, if you love your career, your retirement will mean a loss of identity, responsibility and accomplishment—resulting in you padding around in your kitchen, striving for a more efficient strategy for stocking the dishwasher.
The new reality is, don’t call it retirement. Call it a career change—a chance to finally, and once-and-for-all, do what you love doing. And, if you do find something you love, if you do find your vocation—your calling—(as described in Fact 4), chances are you’ll end up earning income at it too.
The new reality, therefore, is this; if you agree with the above, if you agree it’s a career change—and not retirement—then why wait? Why wait until you’re 58 or 60 or 65 to finally do what you love? If you agree to call it a career change—and not retirement—why not change now? (And if this idea sounds improbable, might I suggest you revisit Fact 2?). If you do make that change, you’ll then begin to see life as a series of never-ending, meaningful careers. You’ll see it as an experience where work feels like play. And you’ll then see each morning as an introduction to a life of retired non-retirement—where, every day, you’re doing exactly what you love doing.
Case study: Michael Schumacher, the winningest driver in Grand Prix history, retired four years ago at the age of 37. Citing that Formula 1 had become a sport for young, testosterone-laced jocks, he declared being doubtful about his aging instincts. After 4 years in humdrum retirement, he returned, this year, to his calling—to a sport where many of his competitors are half his age.
Harland (Colonel) Saunders only started to build his franchise at the age of 65. Ten years later, Saunders moved to Ontario to oversee his Canadian franchises, and to make continued public appearances.
Les Paul, jazz guitarist and father of the solid-body electric guitar, was a lifelong musician and a tireless innovator. Well into his 90s, Paul continued gigging. In 2006, at the age of 90, he won an unprecedented 2 Grammies for a just-released jazz album.
People. Regular people, deciding to pursue their passion. That’s what this is about. And my sincerest wish is that these 5 facts you gotta know do inspire you to seek out your true calling.
Let me leave you with two more items… If you’re thinking, oh sure it’s easy for you to say, you probably caught all the lucky breaks… then please read this post..
And last, please click on the image below for an inspirational trailer that illustrates how some folk used a catastrophic event to find their true calling:
More on this: This blog has quite a number of posts on retirement. This post called A “way better” retirement strategy details some of what you read here, while this post takes a somewhat tongue-in-cheek view of the retirement thing.
Here it is then. Here’s an outline of that half-day discussion I’ll be having with Halifax business owners, managers—working folk. Remember? I mentioned it before that I was invited there, and I also mentioned that I’d appreciate reading any comments you’d be kind enough to provide.
And so, with no further preamble, no unnecessary illumination, here are 5 Career Facts You Gotta Know:
It’s what you think, not what you do, that’s important
You can do it
You want fans
It’s not about money
Retirement is a myth
Rather than explaining all 5 items in one post, I thought I’d briefly elaborate on one per day. Given that I also discuss these 5 facts elsewhere on this blog, I’m also providing a link to those previous posts. Does that sound OK to you? Alrighty then. Let’s get going. Here’s Item 1:
Fact No 1: It’s what you think, not what you do, that’s important
The myth goes… If you always do the right things, you will always get positive, successful results.
The fact is, there’s more to it than that. Have you ever heard the expression, going through the motions? Seems to me that whoever coined that phrase was onto something. Whoever coined that phrase was suggesting it takes more than mere doing.
It takes belief and commitment. It takes conviction, passion and the feeling that you’re doing the right thing. If you don’t have any of that, then you’re just going through the motions. Whether you’re running a business, leading a department or just getting started in your career, remember that success takes more than Following 12 Proven, Effective Management Steps, it takes more than Assuming 10 Tried-and-True Habits. It takes the right mindset, positive thinking, and an unflagging, deeply-ingrained belief in what it is you’re going to accomplish.
Case study: I love the guitar. I love playing guitar, and I look forward to my Monday evening classical guitar lessons. Over the years, I’d often play a piece for my teacher—my timing dead on, my notes precise. After I’d finish, my teacher would shake his head, and say, “No, you’re not quite there yet.”
What? Why? The notes were right, the beat was right.
The issue, though, was that I wasgoing trough the motions. Yes, I was playing it correctly, but I wasn’t revealing, whatsoever, the passion, the phrasing, or the emotion of that piece.
“Play it again,” My teacher would often say, “And this time, make me cry.”
Do you like your career? Is it fun? Is it meaningful?
Many people will tell you that careers aren't about having fun. Many will tell you that careers are about working hard and working for a long time.
Well, I got tired of all that. So, I made the leap.
I abandoned a lucrative yet uninspiring career and started doing what I love. Now I'm having fun writing, teaching and helping people find their passion.
You can make the leap too. All you need to do is pursue your passion, believe in yourself and, maybe change your relationship with money.
On this weekly blog, and in my book, I provide suggestions for making the leap to a truly meaningful life. Toward a The Net Present Value lifestyle.
By the way, if you'd like to receive an uplifting thought of the day from my book's main character, visit my What Fay Said tumblr site.
It’s Monday; can’t wait for Friday.
