Comments on: Making a Big Change: a Case Study [How I Retired] http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired A retired professional talks about life, technology, learning Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-38848 Bruce Keener Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:52:50 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-38848 Hi Linda, Thank you very much for the positive comments. I am delighted retirement is working out well for you and your husband. I know several people who could retire but who are afraid of change. I'm as afraid of change as anyone, but that is where planning helps, plus trying out as much of it as you can before doing it. Thanks again. Glad the site is helpful to you. All my best Bruce Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for the positive comments. I am delighted retirement is working out well for you and your husband. I know several people who could retire but who are afraid of change. I’m as afraid of change as anyone, but that is where planning helps, plus trying out as much of it as you can before doing it.

Thanks again. Glad the site is helpful to you.

All my best
Bruce

]]> By: Linda http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-38846 Linda Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:01:21 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-38846 Bruce, What a great article. I retired early, and my husband and I started planning about 15+ years prior to that. We had an age in mind and then worked toward that. I worked 3 years past that age, but we did it and I have never looked back. It was a good decision for us both. Like your article we had specific projects/plans that we worked toward and made happen & dealt with the unknown when they came up. Retirement is great. I love your website. I am so glad to have found you. I found you searching about IPOD Touch as a PDA. Your helpful answers gave me the insight to buy the new IPOD Touch and I love it. Thank you for all that you do on your website blog. Keep up the good work. I did check out your wish list on amazon. (~: Bruce,
What a great article. I retired early, and my husband and I started planning about 15+ years prior to that. We had an age in mind and then worked toward that. I worked 3 years past that age, but we did it and I have never looked back. It was a good decision for us both. Like your article we had specific projects/plans that we worked toward and made happen & dealt with the unknown when they came up. Retirement is great. I love your website. I am so glad to have found you. I found you searching about IPOD Touch as a PDA. Your helpful answers gave me the insight to buy the new IPOD Touch and I love it. Thank you for all that you do on your website blog. Keep up the good work. I did check out your wish list on amazon. (~:

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-37858 Bruce Keener Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:40:54 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-37858 Good luck, Gillian! Good luck, Gillian!

]]> By: Gillian Pearce http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-37822 Gillian Pearce Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:22:34 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-37822 What a great story Bruce! Taking action is so critical. I've spent way too many hours thinking about things and I finally just doing it. I'm amazed how soon little steps can lead to big outcomes. My latest project is to create a stable enough internet business that my partner will be able to retire early from his "proper" job. That way we will both have so many more options. Taking action is most definitely the key. What a great story Bruce! Taking action is so critical. I’ve spent way too many hours thinking about things and I finally just doing it. I’m amazed how soon little steps can lead to big outcomes. My latest project is to create a stable enough internet business that my partner will be able to retire early from his “proper” job. That way we will both have so many more options. Taking action is most definitely the key.

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-34038 Bruce Keener Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:47:56 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-34038 Mark, Thank you for your email and for your very insightful comments. The points you bring out about trust are, of course, as applicable to a retired person as to anyone. As is the need to focus on strengths and know weaknesses (and develop teams/ways to work around them). Thank you again, very much ... my best wishes for your continued success. Mark,
Thank you for your email and for your very insightful comments. The points you bring out about trust are, of course, as applicable to a retired person as to anyone. As is the need to focus on strengths and know weaknesses (and develop teams/ways to work around them).

Thank you again, very much … my best wishes for your continued success.

]]> By: Mark Alan Effinger http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-34037 Mark Alan Effinger Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:34:23 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-34037 You bet, Bruce. Even though retired, you might really enjoy what you find. It's been the core of much of my personal business growth over the last decade. The crux: If I am acutely and accurately aware of my business partners and employees strengths, then I can help cover their weaknesses. If they are not performing, we can do "non-invasive surgery" by finding out how their strengths align with the task, and possibly moving them to an area that plays better to their core strengths. Last comment (I know this is in a retirement and financials post, but hang with me here for a moment): Along with strengths, there is another area that makes a genuinely significant impact on how we enjoy our days: Trust. I spend ZERO time worrying if my partners in business have an ulterior motive or are planning to rip me off (and vice-versa). We have 100% trust. With that, we completely remove the need to second guess each others motives, or wonder if we're going to get the knife at some inopportune moment. The amount of forward momentum that provides, versus driving in the rear view mirror is substantial. Many lives are stuck in neutral for lack of trust in those around them. Trusting relationships with spouses, partners, associates, friends, the newspaper boy, etc... make fore a genuinely fulfilling and forward-moving life. Thanks for your phenomenal insights, Bruce. I sent you an email earlier today. Hoping to connect in the future. Warm regards, ME You bet, Bruce.

Even though retired, you might really enjoy what you find. It’s been the core of much of my personal business growth over the last decade.

The crux: If I am acutely and accurately aware of my business partners and employees strengths, then I can help cover their weaknesses.

If they are not performing, we can do “non-invasive surgery” by finding out how their strengths align with the task, and possibly moving them to an area that plays better to their core strengths.

Last comment (I know this is in a retirement and financials post, but hang with me here for a moment): Along with strengths, there is another area that makes a genuinely significant impact on how we enjoy our days: Trust.

I spend ZERO time worrying if my partners in business have an ulterior motive or are planning to rip me off (and vice-versa). We have 100% trust.

With that, we completely remove the need to second guess each others motives, or wonder if we’re going to get the knife at some inopportune moment.

The amount of forward momentum that provides, versus driving in the rear view mirror is substantial. Many lives are stuck in neutral for lack of trust in those around them.

Trusting relationships with spouses, partners, associates, friends, the newspaper boy, etc… make fore a genuinely fulfilling and forward-moving life.

Thanks for your phenomenal insights, Bruce. I sent you an email earlier today. Hoping to connect in the future.

Warm regards,
ME

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-34036 Bruce Keener Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:59:46 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-34036 Thanks for the comment and the book recommendation, Mark. I appreciate it! Thanks for the comment and the book recommendation, Mark. I appreciate it!

]]> By: Mark Alan Effinger http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-34035 Mark Alan Effinger Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:46:39 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-34035 Hi Bruce, Exceptional post. Especially the part about ensuring your financial planner is independent on not motivated by self-interest. Lesson learned. One comment you made in your notes regarding the book How to Retire Happy, Wild & Free. The online test provided by Strengthsfinder (Tom Rath, and originally presented by Marcus Muckingham) can be an invaluable tool in helping discover or reinforce your core strengths. This leads to better decisions based on the reality of who you are, and how your future could unfold if you spent more time playing within your strengths. The book can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Upgraded-Discover-Strengths/dp/159562015X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234060118&sr=8-1 I ask our employees and my business associates to invest the $15 and 30 minutes of time to take the test and look through the evaluation. Amazing how the lightbulb of epiphany comes on when you see your strengths laid bare for you. It's like a renewed understanding and engagement with the very best of you. What better way to head into retirement than with your strengths leading the way. Thanks Bruce, Best, ME Hi Bruce,

Exceptional post. Especially the part about ensuring your financial planner is independent on not motivated by self-interest. Lesson learned.

One comment you made in your notes regarding the book How to Retire Happy, Wild & Free.

The online test provided by Strengthsfinder (Tom Rath, and originally presented by Marcus Muckingham) can be an invaluable tool in helping discover or reinforce your core strengths. This leads to better decisions based on the reality of who you are, and how your future could unfold if you spent more time playing within your strengths.

The book can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Upgraded-Discover-Strengths/dp/159562015X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234060118&sr=8-1

I ask our employees and my business associates to invest the $15 and 30 minutes of time to take the test and look through the evaluation. Amazing how the lightbulb of epiphany comes on when you see your strengths laid bare for you. It’s like a renewed understanding and engagement with the very best of you.

What better way to head into retirement than with your strengths leading the way.

Thanks Bruce,
Best,
ME

]]> By: Making A Big Change « Synapses http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-32509 Making A Big Change « Synapses Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:23:40 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-32509 [...] March 17, 2009 by granthuhn http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired/ [...] [...] March 17, 2009 by granthuhn http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired/ [...]

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/making-a-big-change-a-case-study-how-i-retired#comment-31803 Bruce Keener Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:30:34 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/2007/12/31/making-a-big-change-a-case-study/#comment-31803 Susan, You are sure right that the current economy hurts. My 401k is down almost a third. And many of my friends who were on the verge of retiring have put it off. The markets will return to their highs, in time. But, it shows that we cannot anticipate everything. I am still fortunate, but things could continue to worsen to the point that retirees have to find alternate incomes. I doubt that will happen, but it could. We just can't anticipate everything. At the same time, we cannot put off our dreams forever, our they just stay dreams. Finding the right balance is a difficult part of life, isn't it? Susan,
You are sure right that the current economy hurts. My 401k is down almost a third. And many of my friends who were on the verge of retiring have put it off.

The markets will return to their highs, in time. But, it shows that we cannot anticipate everything. I am still fortunate, but things could continue to worsen to the point that retirees have to find alternate incomes. I doubt that will happen, but it could. We just can’t anticipate everything.

At the same time, we cannot put off our dreams forever, our they just stay dreams. Finding the right balance is a difficult part of life, isn’t it?

]]>