The Word “Retirement” Isn’t In My Vocabulary. I can’t picture my life not working on something.

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The Word “Retirement” Isn’t In My Vocabulary.

 

I often think about how my life will be in the future. After I have achieved my life goals, what will be left for me to do? Will I take my horse and ride off into the sunset? Settle down on a farm in southern France? Retirement seems to be the goal of many working people. For people like me, retirement isn't even a thought.

Why? I am one of the few fortunate people who get to do what they love for a living. In that sense, as long as I am alive and able to move I see myself sticking around for a long time.

It would be lovely to one day leave the business world behind and live out the rest of my days island hopping. To me, it’s much better to have your cake and eat it too. Early retirement is often talked about whether you’re self-employed or employed by others. Yes, early retirement sounds great, but it’s not my cup of tea. In the grand scheme, it’s really about having the option to work. It’s the best of both worlds to have a life where I can work as much as I want and also have as much leisure time as I want. That kind of balance is hard to find in any profession. If I am already living a great life, what would I need to retire from?

I can see why others would want to retire. Most people work a job until they make enough to not have to work. No more having to worry about the daily commute or dealing with the things that come with the job. A chance to spend more time with family. It makes sense. The transition of work to retirement is set up for you to work before play. I wanted to be able to do both at the same time.

Creating a Retirement-Free Life

After leaving my job in 2013, I came home that day and realized that I had one shot to make something of myself. I was 21 and had to figure out how I was going to make a living doing something I like. Easy? Definitely not. With enough work, I can make it happen. Whatever it takes.

I wrote down what kind of life I wanted to have.

It said:

“To do something I love that gives me time freedom. If i’m having fun then I can do it forever.”

Entrepreneurship has given me that.

A big thank you goes to the internet for making it all possible.

I wanted to be the only voice that could tell me what I can and can’t do. In order for that to happen, I knew I had to get my hands dirty. I had to work somewhere I didn’t want to and tough it out until I was able to put myself in a better position. Working several jobs made me appreciate what I have now. I am very thankful for those experiences. Those jobs also gave me a work ethic based on strategy. My work ethic has played a hand in my reasoning for not wanting to retire. I want to see how far I can go before I am no longer able to.

I think of people who are 60+ and still have that fire for what they do. At their age, I aspire to love what I do as much as I do now. Some people notice their age and ask when are they going to hang it up. Giving up on something you enjoy doesn’t make sense. Not everyone can relate and that’s okay. I believe if you had more people who did what they loved for a living, you would have fewer people counting down the years until they can call it quits.

Most people in life end up in one of the three categories:

1. They retire because they can.
2. They keep working because they don’t have the finances to retire.
3. They keep working because they’re the fortunate few who do what they love for a living.

In a perfect world, everyone would experience number 3 even if they end up retiring from it.

I can’t imagine a life without working. What good will retirement serve me if I’m no longer doing what gives me purpose? To retire would cause me to have withdrawals. It would give me the opposite feeling that it should give people.

In my older years, I wouldn’t wish to be younger, but that I am alive long enough to still do what I enjoy. I would wish to still be able to turn thoughts into reality and help others do the same. My only regret wouldn’t be wishing that I have done more, but that I won’t be alive to see the incredible inventions that will soon come in the future. Since that’s out of my control, I can live with that.

It’s not about the money, but the love of the game. Even if I make a lot of money I’ll still be out there at work and doing what I do best. I can still have that farm in southern France and keep working. That for me is a life fulfilled.