Sunday, February 27, 2022

If You Love What You Do, Keep Doing it!




It used to be that people retired when they hit a certain age, were downsized out of a job and were forced into early retirement, or simply got disgusted by all the change in the workplace and decided to pull the plug.  We often forget there is a large contingent of individuals who want to keep working. They don't necessarily need the money that work provides. What they want is the forum to do what they love to do. 

Many individuals want to continue to use their skills or learn new ones. Others love the social aspects of working. That's the water cooler crowd. They love going into work and seeing friends or colleagues. As many retirees have told us: "I miss doing something on the weekends and having no place to go to tell anybody on Monday morning." "I love the banter of the cubicle." "I love hearing what others are doing and enjoying sharing ideas." "If I retired, I would miss my gang too much."

When people ask us, "Should I retire?" We always respond, "Do you like what you do?" If the response is yes, then we encourage people to stay working. If you are physically and emotionally able to continue working at a job you love, then keep at it. We've found that people who have retired from a job they love and could have continued doing regret their decision.  It's not about age. It's about attitude. For those who retired and miss their work, it's not too late. The Great Resignation has left many jobs open that could be filled by retirees.  So if you fit in this category, start looking. With longevity, cycling in and out of work is the future. You might end up doing something entirely different and finding new joy in a job you've never done before.