Many people dream of retirement but, when that time comes some people balk at actually retiring. It may not be because they don’t have enough money to retire. They may not know what to do with all that extra time. My position on the subject is that if you are enjoying work then keep working, but if you don’t enjoy your job – retire. But that doesn’t mean you have to quit working. Starting your own business can be a great way to enjoy your retirement! Sounds a bit contradictory doesn’t it? However, if you run your business in a way that suits you, it can enhance a semi-retirement lifestyle.
I know several semi-retired people, and they love it. I look forward to see what each new day will bring. I don’t overload myself with work and the work I do is scheduled to suit my lifestyle. The money doesn’t hurt either. My cousin retired after thirty years from an excellent paying job in the petro chemical industry. Six months later he got a job pumping gas – partly because retirement was costing him so much money to entertain himself during all this free time ( golfing isn’t cheap) but mostly because he was bored.
Many people think that owning a business is complicated. They think you have to have a college education in business to be successful. That is not true. Businesses that don’t require inventory – don’t require expensive buildings to keep the inventory in. The Gravel Doctor, for instance, conducts business at the customer’s location. All they have to do is get their equipment there, and know how to do the job right.
Advertising a business was pretty easy in the old days – just put an ad in the newspaper. As we left the fifties and got into the sixties radio and television came into the picture and offered more options. And then there were the Yellow Pages. Wow, there were so many options that you couldn’t afford to use them all. And you didn’t know which one or two would be the most effective. Now we have the internet, it’s the most cost-effective way to advertise that I have found, hands down. Google ad words can help drive potential customers to your web site, and you can target then to specific geographical locations. If you have a great web master ( as the Gravel Doctor does ) Search Engine Optimization will put you to in the top results for internet searches.
So, if you would like to be in business, do your due diligence and think about it carefully, because being in the right business can actually sweeten your retirement. For myself, I don’t believe retirement will ever be in my future. CHEERS