Retire now: Weave retirement into your work even if you are in your 20s
July 23, 2007 by David Zinger
Filed under career, coaching, management, work life
In about 10 years the number of young people getting into the workplace will no longer be enough to replace retirees.
Tim Cork, a career coach, stated in The Globe and Mail, “if you are fifty-something and you can expect to live into your 80s, you should be thinking of this as half-time and not the beginning of the end.”
He encourages older workers to think about a new career with these tips:
- focus on your strengths
- find your passion
- network
- create your brand
- do your homework
- take action
- don’t be discouraged
- have a support system
I don’t know about you but this would be the same advice I have heard for recent graduates from high school or university.
If you are younger you may be expected to work longer in your life.
Don’t wait for retirement, retire now.
Retire now…
Retire now does not mean you stop working. It means you work at what interests you and what you care about.
Retire now means that you take vacations, breaks, and time with your family.
Retire now means you stop always trying to climb up the career ladder and enjoy being on the rung.
Retire now means you “stop trying harder and try softer.”
Retire now means you don’t always have to be connected or respond to each email within 22 seconds.
Retire now means that you make contributions to society and you fully develop yourself.
Retire now means you can take full satisfaction in what you have done in your life, even at 22 years of age!
Retire now means you learn from the past, look forward to the future, but live in the ever changing current now.
Retire now means that retirement is a part of working not apart from working.
Don’t wait for some magic age such as 50, 60 or 65. Don’t wait for some “retirement package.” Retire now.
David Zinger was lucky enough at 21 years of age, 32 years ago, to have listened carefully to Don, an 80 year-old-fried who said retirement was wasted on the elderly and that people 21 should be retired. David has been retired ever since while still actively working. Retirement is a way of living and working that can successfully reside within an active and full career.
I agree. I am only 21 and I have been reading all about how to be a successful member of the corporate executive team when it all hit me! RETIRE NOW! I believe it. If you like what this guy is talking about you might want to head over to http://www.fourhourworkweek.com and read what Tim Ferriss is talking about. Its very similar and gives you plenty more time for the things you have a passion for. Love what you do and do what you love then money will come. Nice post.
Hi Josh,
21 was when I retired. All the best with the many many golden years ahead!
It is interesting because I have many friends around 50 to 60 who are just moving into retirement and wondering what they will do. Many of them are working but have a more relaxed view of work and will only work it is has intrinsic rewards.
Retirement is not just an attitude but a way we approach both our work and leisure time. It is both how we think about work and how we actually work.
I think it brings some mythical future into the now where it can really make a difference.
I have known some people who could not wait to retire and start to live but never lived long enough to retire!
Now, if we could only get the government to give us a pension at 21!
David