Declining my recent job offer was a choice I made on principle. For the first time in my life, I turned down what appeared to be my best opportunity to make a lot of money.
I’ve turned down high paying job opportunities before – usually because they involved relocation, travel or because I had a bad gut feeling about the company. But until 5 years ago, when my position was eliminated and I lost my job, I never stopped looking for a good job that paid more.
I’d like to have more money. It would provide me with a modicum of security and peace of mind. After all, I’m retired on a shoestring and have given up certain expenses (like medical insurance) and purchases to conserve money.
But right now I’m good.
I thought more about the position I was offered and realized that I’m not interested in working in sales management anymore. I’ve done that for over 20 years.
I think it would be interesting to be on the Board of this company. I have deep and broad experience running sales and scaling sales teams. Unfortunately, I don’t have the credentials of the other Board members. They all have been CEOs of startups that went public. They are all extremely wealthy and have gone on to become members of venture capital firms.
I wouldn’t mind working part-time again someday. But the job would have to be interesting, challenging and convenient.
I’m interested in trying something completely outside of sales.
That said, I cannot picture myself going back to college to earn a degree in Engineering, Marine Biology or Physics. I have no interest in incurring the debt and investing the time so that I can take an entry level position in a new filed when I’m in my late 50s.
At my pool, my lifeguard friend is always trying to recruit me. I loved being a lifeguard back when I was in college. But today, I’d never give up my free time to do that.
My neighbor sees me working out and often suggests I should become a personal trainer because of my lifelong workout experience.
I tell him I have zero interest in training other people. I like to train myself. I’d never want to be a trainer having to motivate people to workout. Plus it wouldn’t pay enough to make me give up my free time.
I have known some retired people who went back to work for “something to do”. Some returned to their previous jobs. Others worked at grocery stores or retail. They said it got them out of the house and kept them busy. The money was an afterthought.
I don’t need work to get me out or keep me busy. My life is full.
And so I’ll remain retired while keeping my eye open in case anything interesting pops up.