So, you are in a career today. Right? Good.
Just a few years ago, you were much younger than what you are today. You had dreams for your future then. You also have plans for your future right now. And in between, aging, an inescapable fact of life, is catching up with you. Here is an important question. Is your work today what you planned in the years past? Depending on your answer, let us consider this for a moment.
In every nation, there are ideologies and philosophies, cultural practices, and ways of thinking and doing that shape or influence how children grow up from childhood into adulthood. The dominant approach is usually something along the lines: go to school, graduate, get a job and start work, get married, build/buy a house, buy a car, make money at all costs, etc. With every passing year, you get older as you try to achieve your goals. Then you become physically tired and may not function as you used to in your younger years. Then comes retirement.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines retirement as withdrawal from one’s position or occupation or active working life. This definition does not mention aging. That means any worker may retire at any age. But, the overarching question is: is it necessary to withdraw from your work at any point? Is retirement going to ensure a longer and healthier life or, what exactly is retirement meant to achieve for you? In 40 years from today, are you supposed to become less productive and retire?
If your work relies on your natural gift, there should never be such a thing as becoming less productive. It is possible because gifted persons never cease to be innovative. They always look for opportunities even if they have reached and passed the so-called retirement age.
Can someone explain why Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States past age 52 when most workers are looking forward to retirement?
Colonel Sanders’ KFC became a franchise when he turned 62.
Actor Ronald Reagan ran for governor at age 54.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor of California at age 56.
These examples abound. These people turned their lives around at ages considered retirement ages. It proves one thing, that if you find and work on your gifts and work in jobs aligned to your natural gifting, you may have found a way remain innovative even 40 years down the line.
Find your gift early (parents, help your children find their gifts) in life, and allow the college degree you want to study for to be guided by your gift/s. You will likely get into a career path where you are naturally in your element, and there may never really be such a thing as retiring from your work. And, even after 4 -5 decades, you will still be active, relevant, and productive.
What are you going to do?
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