On August 1, 2022 I early retired…meaning I “Just quit” working for someone else in exchange for a paycheck and benefits.
No More:
- Logging on at 7:00,
- Weekly routine WebEx meetings,
- Reviewing and approving purchase orders,
- Team meetings,
- Answering “emergency” phone calls mostly because of poor planning or folks not following up, and
- “Managing” which can be akin to a form of babysitting for those who don’t understand they shouldn’t need that level of supervision.
It’s been almost 20 years since I “Just Quit” the last time BUT somethings have not changed:
- Going a day without health insurance waiting on COBRA to kick-in is nerve-wracking,
- Not having a title and big-name organization to associate with feels familiar, and
- Shaking off what feels like chains and the freedom of that feeling.
When you early retire you don’t just stop.
You shouldn’t just stop.
I’m not just stopping.
I am pulling together EVERYTHING I know how to do and like to do:
- Presenting information (every job I’ve ever had)
- Reviewing quotes/information (all my purchasing jobs)
- Sitting at a table marketing a product/company (my marketing job at the NC Credit union)
- Training others (My training jobs at the VA Credit Union and NC Police Dept.)
- Looking at details/compliance/forms and analyzing information (My compliance job at the Shipyard)
Pulling all of this together and seeing how far and fast it takes me by using my past experiences and skills. Learning this new industry and products from my mentor and following a proven process. Do I think it will yield amazing results? Yes, I certainly do.
I’ll blog this new journey on “Just Quitting” at almost 60 years old.