My Retirement Job

One of my friends who has an advanced business degree left a job that did not make him happy in order to find something new. He had been looking for new jobs in Finance for a while and recently decided that he didn't have to wait to pursue his "retirement job". He decided that he can go after his dream of working with his hands and becoming a residential contractor today. I am so proud of him for going after his dream. He has re-packaged his education, experience, and interests into a new career. This made me wonder, what is my "retirement job"?

I have always loved psychology and helping other people work through problems and sometimes, I think it would be fun to become a psychologist when I retire from the business world someday. I would open a small practice and help people work through major transitions in their lives, such as leaving a career, dealing with the loss of a loved one, leaving a bad relationship, processing a health issue like cancer, or building self-confidence. Perhaps I would set up a little booth on the beach like Lucy in the "Peanuts" cartoons offering my psychiatric services for $0.25 a session. It would feel amazing to have a job where I could say "I make people feel better one hour at a time". I worry about how to make this dream a reality. Do I want to go back to school and pursue further education when I recently invested a lot time and money in a MBA? How will I make enough money to have the financial security that I desire? Is now the time to make such a drastic career change?

Then I dream about starting my own little business called "Cupcake Dreams". I picture a small shop filled with bright colors where kids, parents, and friends could come together to create their own cupcakes. Since I have a passion for health and fitness, I would differentiate myself by developing healthy cupcake recipes and using only the finest ingredients. "Cupcake Dreams" would be a safe place where you are free to express your individuality one cupcake at a time. Chocolate, vanilla, marble, cinnamon, strawberry, peanut butter surprise, just select your yummy cake flavor. Then you mix up the ingredients and pop it in the oven. Now the fun begins as you ice your cupcake with chocolate, vanilla, whip cream, or strawberry frosting and decorate with fun sprinkles, fruit, or candies. After all, who doesn't love to be creative, get dirty, and eat sugar with the ones they love. Once again I question if I really want to start my own business and invest many hours planning and running the operations, when I really crave a balanced simple life. Do I have the ambition to start my own business? Would I want to invest the time and money into something that may or may not be a success?

Like my friend, I am looking for my "residential contractor" job. I am searching for something that will allow me to re-package my education, experience, and interests into a job that will twinkle my toes and inspire me to wake up each day. I am want a job that will allow me to work with smart, talented people who respect my values for balance and simplicity. I am looking for something that will give me variety and allow me to express my creativity, as well as provide financial security. Now, I need to start the search and see if I can make my "retirement job" whatever that may be a reality.