Early Retirement

Early retirement is the dream of the majority of the population. Being able to stop working before 65 and do whatever you like whenever you like without having to worry about money? Sounds great doesn’t it?

However, often people are so busy working hard to retire early that they don’t think about what they’re going to do once they reach that goal. If you do know it tends to be a list of all those things you have been putting off (decorating is always high on the agenda!) with more time for golf as a sweetener. Sadly after all that hard work many people find early retirement can result in depression as their days no longer hold the same type of purpose as they had previously. This is often compounded by everyone still working telling you how lucky you are.

But early retirement can trigger the most rewarding stage yet of your career – it just looks a little different from your previous career(s). Now you can really explore what type of career will thrill you without having to take into account whether it will pay the bills. Want to volunteer in Africa twice a year? Want to coach the best local cricket team? Want to write that book? Want to help young companies get going? For a lot of people they cannot wait to hit that golf course, but for a substantial number it is a very unpleasant feeling as they have been addicted to their work… and coming off the ‘work’ addiction is like going cold turkey.

It is so easy to ‘get back on that horse’ even if you have made your money and don’t need to worry anymore… because there is a huge hole in your life… that job which gave your life meaning… Giving yourself permission to explore the world outside, identify all the things you wanted to do, without thinking about how much it gives you financially… rather how much it gives you emotionally!

This is why if you have not found your purpose by now it is a very important thing to do.

Turning Maslow on his head

Taken from How to win from the start 'Turning Maslow on his Head' looks at ‘self actualisation’ and purpose and how these can be the driving forces in our lives.
Read: Turning Maslow on his head