“If you’re thinking about retiring, you’ve retired.” Scotty Stirling This is one of those quotes that has elements of truth in it and then, depending on the individual, it is not true.
I’ve known people waiting around to retire. In the Army we called them ROAD (Retired on Active Duty). These types of individuals get by with doing the minimum necessary so as not to get fired or counseled. They arrive on time and they leave punctually at the correct hour for “closing time.” I have never associated much with folks like this, so I don’t know what they are thinking.
On the other hand, planning for retirement is appropriate—even for a twenty something new worker fresh out of college. Trust me the years will fly by and with retirement systems dwindling, social security scheduled to be in the pits and the stock market or real estate your only other options, you will need to be doing some planning and saving.
The issue is not your age, but what consumes your mind. Are you looking forward or backward at what you have accomplished? By always being oriented to the future, not being afraid of change and looking for new challenges you will remain a vital member of your work team and society.
I suppose there are those who only think about playing golf, but for me work is not to be feared, it is to be embraced! There will be plenty of time for golf at some point in my life; I just don’t know when that will be.
