Its been a long, long time since I’ve shared any updates and I wanted to fill in some blanks that have recently been posited to me.
When I started my business, I noted three things that I wanted to achieve as markers of success. The first was to hit several industry benchmarks that indicated excellence in my work. The second was to earn one of two industry awards. And the third was to earn a certain dollar amount that was personally significant.
Last year, while trying to figure out how I could continue in my business and become a full time care partner for my parents, I realized I had achieved all of these goals. As I was looking at how I could possibly create more than 24 hours in a day, I realized that whether *I* was ready or not, retirement was the best option. I drew my client work to a close and stepped into a new phase.
Dad passed away about two years ago after a long stretch on hospice, just in time for my mum to experience a ridiculously difficult series of health dominoes that just kept coming. This last step, a brain tumor removal, seems to be – finger crossed and said in a very hushed voice lest the fates hear – the conclusion to this difficult period. Although you would never know it from meeting her, Mum is almost 90 and even though she has successfully – quite atypically well, according to her providers – supporting her now through the rest of her recovery feels like a true blessing.
A couple of years ago, we moved to our “retirement” house – a lovely house near the ocean with an extremely handy in-law condo. While Mum and Dad jazzed the condo up beautifully with a new kitchen and bathroom that rivals any luxury spa, we have done nothing in the main house and it is time! I am starting to dip my toes in designing my dream kitchen – can anyone say double dishwashers, warming drawers and a built in salamander? – and figuring out whether I want to go all dark hardwood or lighter with border details and a compass rose in the front entry. Focusing on domestic joys is a foreign concept, thanks to the tightrope unicycle riding greased glass ball juggling act that was building and running my business solo for so many years. I loved every minute of it, especially watching clients make bank using legal hacks, but this is a new paradigm indeed.
I have no advice to offer about picking the right time to retire. I suspect for many people, it will be their lives telling THEM it’s the right time. I am still an avid consumer of information, news and announcements about how small businesses can and do thrive and grow. I am always happy to share insights, thoughts and endorsements on ideas, programs and concepts that work to a small business owner’s advantage. And I will be a very active lurker here and elsewhere on the web.
Be well, do all things with joy and be sure to connect with the ones you love often. And thank you for giving the opportunities to achieve some of my dreams through helping you achieve yours!
