Clint Eastwood, at 95, still directs and produces films.
Donald Trump, at 79, still contests elections and legislates.
Warren Buffett, 95, still runs Berkshire Hathaway.
Paul McCartney, 83, still tours and headlines shows.
Why?
Firstly, of course, they have a business model that is financially viable and helps them pay their bills and create (additional) wealth. In addition, probably because they enjoy doing what they do; so, why should they stop?
But, what can I do?
If they can, so can we. Of course, if we would like to.
A new beginning does not mean that a retired accountant needs to become an astronaut or a retired salesman should become a wildlife safari guide. When Aaron Judge comes out to bat in a baseball game, it is still in a baseball game. But each inning is a new beginning.
Source: Depositphotos
All of us probably know doctors, lawyers, accountants who run their own show and never retire, only slow down.
But they are not employees of a corporation. They don’t have a company retirement policy to follow. They can choose to not retire. Besides, I can’t start a company like the one I worked for and give myself a job, can I?
OK, now we are getting somewhere.
- Colonel Harland Sanders founded KFC in his 60s.
- Frank McCourt published Angela’s Ashes at 66, winning the Pulitzer Prize.
- Arianna Huffington launched Huffington Post at 55.
They were not famous people till they became famous. You haven’t done anything till you do it. Retirement has nothing to do with age. It is a mindset and preference.
Besides, if retired, you have retired from something. I don’t know any corporation that pays a salary for doing nothing. You must have been somewhat good at something.
Like someone said, “Doing nothing in retirement sounds restful, but in the long run, it’s exhausting.”
What humans want
What do humans want? While “nobody knows” is perhaps the best answer, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning & Accomplishment, and Being Valued are some that many seem to agree on.
During our non-retirement life, we get these through being of value to others, and hence being valued, and compensated, through the work we do. It is a give and take. A mutual interdependence.
What after retirement?
Source: Dreamstime
Why should it be any different after retirement? Humans don’t suddenly change to a new model or version like ChatGPT 4 to 5, or Windows 10 to 11, do they? Why will the needs and methods of achieving them change?
Some of it could be achieved by spending your retirement funds; on cruises, on golf games, on opera shows. When you spend top dollars, the recipients will be deferential to you, maybe even respectful, and value you through the money they earn because of you. But:
- How much golf can you play?
- Or, how many cruise vacations can you go on?
For the times when you are not on a cruise ship or playing golf, you have Retired But Ready, an exciting new platform for retired persons to keep their minds active, connect, and communicate with each other.
A brief history of retirement
Were our ancestors the retiring type?
It seems no, though slowing down on account of age-related physical decline is obvious.
Retirement seems to be a uniquely modern invention, like the steam engine and electricity. The two could even be related, with industrialization leading to a need for the elderly to be phased out of physically demanding employment. Bismarck’s Germany is believed to have created the first state pension system in the late nineteenth century. It was viewed as a political decision to strengthen loyalty of the worker to the state. And also create jobs for the youth.
The changing face of retirement
Retirement is not all that it is cracked up to be.
Actually, nothing is.
According to North American Community Hub Statistics, U.S. life expectancy increased from 68.2 years in 1950 to 79.25 years in 2024.
What does that mean in the context of old age and retirement?
Measuring that against 65, which used to be the full retirement age at which you became eligible for Medicare and could access your “primary insurance amount,” what it means is:
- In 1950 post-retirement life was all of 3 years for the average American
- In 2024, the average American lives more than 14 years post-retirement
| Fun fact: When, in the aftermath of the Great Depression, social security was introduced in the US, life expectancy was around 62. With retirement benefits kicking in at 65, very few lived long enough to live the “retired” life. |
Today’s retirees often face more complex realities such as the rising cost of healthcare and the shift from defined-payment to defined-contribution pension plans which lead to greater uncertainty in earnings.
What do you want?
Our ancestors did not retire.
Source: istockphoto
Even after the introduction of social security, most people died in “harness,” while still working. In other words, they continued “working” till their last days.
So, why is it that we believe we have the right to live a life of leisure in retirement?
Have we bought into the “Golden Years” marketing spiel—a period of endless relaxation, enjoyment, and travel?
And maybe that works, in different degrees for different people. If it works for you and is what you’d rather be doing, great.
For the rest, we need to do what we have always done; contribute to society and the lives of others. So, if you haven’t already done so, it might be time to get off your backside and go get a life.
How?
For a start, join Retired But Ready, a community available 24×7 that supports and empowers you, and, in turn, learns from you.
We are, of course, wiser than when we started our “working” life and can take better decisions. Hopefully, we also have more choices, especially the choice of not being dependent on the financial compensation we receive from such work. And, even if we are, that is fine too. Every person’s situation is different.
What can you do?
You may not know Col. Sanders or Arianna Huffington, but you might know:
- The banker who started a free school for street children
- The school teacher who transformed into a baker
- The sales executive who now takes groups on treks to eco-sensitive areas
Some earn and some don’t. What is common in these stories is that they demonstrate one crucial facet of retirement, and life – it is about renewal and engagement; about recognizing the opportunities that every day and every moment brings forth, and seizing the ones we want to seize.
Retirement is one more midway stop on life’s journey, not the finishing line. The choice has always been yours; to fade away or continue to contribute meaningfully to society and family. It could be the most fulfilling period yet.
Marching in lockstep with you on this journey is Retired But Ready, the world’s only platform exclusively for the seasoned, battle-tested members of the global human community.
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