Nearing Retirement...

Well, not really.

My famous last words, “I will never retire! I love work too much!”

I said it in my 30's, repeated it in my 40's...

Now I'm in my middle 50's – and rethinking the philosophy of my younger years, trying to redefine – or refine (better said) that phrase.

It's true – I really do love to work. Or maybe MY definition of work.

Looking back, whatever I was doing (or working) at the time, I enjoyed.

I started my work history at age 11 on my dad's farm – carrying milk in a pail to the milk parlor, feeding and watering calves, sweeping walkways. In the summer there was even more work loading haybales onto a haywagon and bringing the bales of hay back to the barn to be taken off – bale by bale – up the elevator to the haymow.

I was paid $5.00 a month for the barn work... and in the summer we (my sister and I) were paid $.50 per hour for getting in the hay. It paid for our school clothes, records (LPs) and a day at the local fair in August.

I worked the farm until I was seventeen.

Then I got a parttime job working as a telephone operator in town.

I saved and saved my money – and about a year later (in 1971), I had saved enough for a down payment on a car – my first car – a new car!

So, my life began – my adult working life.

So, I'm not stranger to work.

Today, I work in a pupil transportation (school bus) office. I've been here 19 years... and have loved it.

But it's getting near the time that I want to spend more time with my family, my granddaughters in particular.

I want to slow down... but I do not want to stop!

One of the reasons I started an online business was because as I looked at the future predictions of social security and pensions, it really is NOT going to be enough.

I will either be a very poor senior citizen... or I will be a senior who has a way to work from home and supplement what little pittance the government may (or may not) give me.

I majored in business courses in high school and kept jobs close to my love of organization and business-related employment.

When the first computers entered the market of “ordinary people,” I waited for something to knock me off my feet before going out and getting one of my own...

I had already learned (self-taught) DOS, dBase, WordStar, etc. on an old computer (“Victor” - we named him) at work. And he ran on 5 1/2” floppies!

When Windows was introduced and the “486's” came out – I had to “get me one” - and I did.

Not long after came AOL – oh, getting on the Internet was SO SLOW on my computer with a 2800 baud modem, 450 Mb hard drive and 4 Mhz RAM. But the thrill – I can still feel it 16 some odd years later!

Speed ahead to 2008...

Computers and my business background...

I have always had this gut feeling that these two were meant to be wedded together.

And my drive to use the computer as a tool (NOT for Solitaire :-) – but to make money – now and into my retirement years.

Of course, all of this does not come by magic.

I started to educate and search out information on topics so that I can make this a reality.

So, building a business online does not come without some blood, sweat and tears. It does not come without sorting through the mess – oops – mass of good and yes, bad information on the Internet today.

You must be willing to learn, and take some chances.

What kind of chances?

Well, remember my first computer and how s-l-o-w it was? When the next wave of computers came out – larger hard drives, more RAM – do you know what I did?

I could not go out and just buy the newest technology everytime “they” made changes.

So I decided I had to learn to upgrade the computer I had.

The first thing I did was buy some RAM at a local computer fair. The man said that all I had to do was open up my case, look for a slot (he showed me) and snap the slender bar into the slot, reboot my computer and (magic) – my computer would be more speedy.

I remember holding the screwdriver (to open my computer case) and saying to my Dad - “Well, here's goes nothing...”

We both held our breaths (did I tell you my Dad, a retired farmer, was my whole computer inspiration?)...

Snap... reboot... and my computer ran faster than ever. Success!

Anyway, my point here?

Don't be afraid to take small chances.

Believe in yourself.

Do you need to go beyond just playing games on your computer?

Then find someone who will teach you. Or better yet – for self-motivators – buy a book. Try some of the suggestions you read.

I got my confidence when I bought - and applied suggestions from the “Windows for Dummies” series. I bought the series for Windows 3.1 (Books 1 and 2), Windows 95 and Windows 98. After gaining confidence and some skill, I discovered I could go to the next level of learning... and the next... and the next.

If you're reading this and nearing retirement age (as I am) – or if you're in your 30's or 40's – don't wait another day to begin learning how to use your computer as a tool. It's powerful... and put to good use, can help you build a business from the comfort of your home.

Educate yourself. Read, research – spend some money (you don't have to spend a lot) for your education.

There are many self-help books out there. Some of them are great, some of them are not so great. But even in the “not so great,” I have found jewels that I've picked out and used successfully.

One book (in particular) that I am reading is the “Retirement Survival Guide.”

Yes, I have a business online – and an accounting business offline... and a full-time job – I'm not retired yet!

But I'm reading everything I can get my hands on.

I want to retire. But I also want the knowledge that will help me retire with some money left over at the end of the month.

Is this you? Then you might want to join me. Again the name of the book is “Retirement Survival Guide.” And you can get more information about this book by clicking on the title (or the Resources below). It will take you to an information/promotional page along with ordering information.

Another suggestion is SiteBuildIt.

SiteBuildIt is great if you have an idea but feel the task of learning so much in so little time is daunting. They guide you from brainstorming your idea to producing a full-fledged webpage. (And the forums are great, too.)

Even it you have several ideas, their Brainstormer tool will help you choose the best idea for your website.

They have a webpage with many case-studies from real people who have used SiteBuildIt. If you click on the link, you can read whether one of these studies may fit you!

An option for brick-and-mortar business owners who don't have the time (or inclination) to build their own website, SiteBuiltIt for your local business has experienced people who will work with you to get you online – and found by your customers.

I know this has been long-winded and I hope that by the time you read this that you don't think that this is pure sales-pitch...

What I say is sincere.

My goal is to be able to retire – or partially retire with my at-home business.

Why? To enjoy my family, my little girls (granddaughters) and life itself!

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Resources:

Retirement Survival Guide
SiteBuildIt Case Studies
SiteBuildIt for Local Businesses