Retirement sets you free.
The freedom of retirement.
People have the idea of retirement all wrong. It is not about working 50 years, quitting your job, walking the dog and caring for the grand children. Nothing wrong with that, but retirement is about being free to do what you want, when you want. It should happen as early in life as possible, and it can be accomplished in a relatively short time. All you need is a business that provides you a good income with minimal work on your part.
When choosing the kind of business you want to create, look for a business model that can produce income far into the future based on work you do to day. Some people do it by investing in commercial real estate, some by investing in the stock market. I choose the internet marketing business model.
Have you lost your way?
I watch many of my friends fall apart when they retire. They have worked 40 or 50 years and their lives have been defined by their jobs. When they are no longer working, they no longer have a personal identity.
Retirement gives you the opportunity to redefine you life by the things you want to accomplish. You no longer have to do what the boss wants.
Lots of retirees have trouble defining their new life.
Every life should be lived with purpose. Know what is important to you and create a team of like minded people to help you accomplish your goal. Find a mentor who shares your interests and who is successful in the niche you want to pursue. Okinawans call their group a moai, to others it is a club, a hui, a church or even a gang. In Okinawa a moai is formed by a group of parents bringing their children together to look after each other. Moais are formed for a lifetime.
Retirement was a tough time for me. In my working career, I was Protection Forester for the State of Hawaii. In retirement, I was nothing. So much of our self worth is associated with our work. It took me 10 years to realize my life was headed in the wrong direction.
I knew I wanted to help people live better lives and leave a better world to their kids. Selling paint wasn’t cutting it. I had retired early and my retirement income paid the current bills, but didn’t provide the money I needed to cover emergencies. One thing I knew was I needed to supplement my income, and I needed to do things that gave my life purpose. But, what things?
Deciding on your purpose.
I sat down with a yellow tablet and listed what I like to do and what I hate doing.
What I like
What I hate
Being out doors
Cooped up in an office cubical
Swimming and diving
Commuting
Hiking and camping
Having to work at a specific location.
Photography and videography
Most jobs
Helping people solve problems
People telling me what I must do and how I must do it.
Writing
Hurting others.
Sharing my ideas with others
Working with computers to help others solve problems
It became obvious I needed a reliable residual income of at least $2000/ month. I wanted to be outside working with conservation projects. I believe in being as resilient as possible personally, financially and globally. My values include: honesty, being helpful, loyalty, always striving for perfection, being responsible. Whatever I chose to do it had to be consistent with my values.
I decided my niche would be helping people live more resiliently. Specifically, I will provide information about creating personal and financial resilience and will help people live more sustainably on this earth. That is much to broad a niche, so I will focus on the supplies and equipment people need to survive and recover after an emergency.
Join me!
If you would like to work with me, drop me a PM so we can stay in touch. I will send you a series of notes to help you get started in your new life. Our objective is to help you create an independent income that will set you free from having to depend on a job. Then you can fulfill you purpose rather than your boss’s. We are stronger together. Share your experiences and help us avoid mistakes.
Recent Comments
7
I think that Loes' words describe all our reasons for being here.
Some emphasize one part more than another. I came because of the learning, connecting with people came next. The earning time importance is a conclusion.
Mike's statement is also so very true for me.
Thanks
Sami
Yes, find yourself a meaningful activity, and the best part is that it is something which also earns some extra cash, that's why I joined Wealthy Affiliate, to learn and earn and to keep in touch with people.
This is a good blog. I retired just a year ago this month and have been loving it especially since finding WA.