Grow
- don't retire!
Today's
concept of retirement is rapidly being replaced by
"redirection", which could mean a complete
new direction in type of work. The options that are
now open to anyone are to
- stay
working in their current job (if you can)
- learn
a completely new skill
- head
off in a totally new direction
- do
nothing
Mitch
Anthony, in his excellent new book "The New
Retirementality" , suggests that "...in the
context of our modern information age, conventional
ideas about retirement are not only inappropriate but
they are counterproductive." His premise is
that, as a result of modern living, there is no need
to retire from work at an artificial age of say 65.
There is a need however to look at alternatives to
working full time (40 + hours a week) by exploring
new career opportunities.
He
suggests that some of the myths about retirement that
should be addressed are
- sixty
five is old
- retirement
means not working
- people
wait to "retirement" to pursue
their passion
- retirement
is an economic event
- the
ultimate goal is a life of ease
- financial
planning is for the birds
The
experience with the Queensland Government's Gold
Coast initiative persuading employers to hire mature
people is proving a run-away success. This opens the
door to a rollout in Queensland and throughout the
country.
Work,
in fact, may always be part of your life. And why
not? Think about the people you know who have
"retired". Are they happy? Some, but
usually the ones who have an active, engaging life
with interests (including perhaps some paid work)
that keep them well occupied.
"Grow,
don't retire" addresses these points and
encourages the audience to take an active position in
how they look at the way they plan their own future.
It examines the audience members' current job and
their own skills to help develop an understanding of
their own job fulfilment. Up-to-date information from the "Retyremnent"
conference in Hobart (November 2005) is used.
