I have been working (or looking for work) non-stop for almost forty years. My first job in high school was at Waldenbooks, which I loved. I worked through college, had my own business, was employee #1 at Marketo and was there through a successful IPO. I was early to use CSS, early to use jQuery, early to use JavaScript frameworks in a commercial app, early to use Figma. I led teams, I worked at start-ups, I have architected complex systems and designed innovative software; all mostly in the B2B realm.
All-in-all, I think I have had an interesting and fruitful career. Sure, I could have made more money. I made my share of dumb (or unlucky) decisions. Right now, I find myself in a position where I am financially secure, assuming a reasonable lifestyle. (No addictions or expensive habits) I am not working anywhere at the moment, so the question of retirement has been on my mind. Some people think I will get bored. It has me thinking of how I might fill my days. Here are some of the possibilities.
Mentoring
I am actually taking a break from ADPList. I have found it rewarding, but it is somewhat of a one trick pony. Almost every single mentee is looking for work and doesn’t want a mentor once they find the job. I have helped many find jobs. If you are looking for a job, these are the steps. The market is terrible right now, not just for designers. Tech companies are shrinking. Also, the skill set is changing quickly. (This leads me to my next item…)
Conclusion: Taking a mentoring break from ADPList. If you need me, connect on LinkedIn.
Writing a UX book
For years, I considered writing down everything I know about software design. I was always too busy working or looking for work that I just did not commit the time. Now that I have endless time, I could do it. The problem is that everything I know about design is about to go out the window. AI is radically changing everything about tech. I don’t even know if there will be “users” in the future. What is the point of information architecture if there are no users? By the time I finished, it would already be out of date.
Conclusion: No book
Develop Told You So app
Told You So is an app I conceived ten years ago. There has been an explosion of coding tools using AI. I could attempt to learn how to do it myself. The cost would be minimal unless it somehow got popular. I am very intimidated by this idea, but also intrigued.
Conclusion: Maybe. I am going to wait a bit before really embarking.
Tennis
I was thinking of getting some lessons, as many as I could handle in 2 months. I have always thought that you get better with short bursts of intense practice, not long term once-a-week maintenance. My only concern is that I do not want to injure myself. Ideally, I could elevate my game to a 4.5 level.
Conclusion: Yes, after some period of time.
Consulting or Work
If something worthwhile fell into my lap, I could do some consulting. However, I am not going to actively seek this out. Never say never obviously. I’ve taken a few weeks off and my brain is slowly changing. How I perceive time is changing very quickly. It’s much quieter than I had anticipated. There are many emotions and challenges related to this one. We shall see how it goes.
Conclusion: Going to try to sit in retirement for a bit and see how it feels.
Couch potato
I am certainly doing some of this. I need to be careful that I don’t get too lazy. That’s a downward spiral into poor health and lifestyle. However, it is pretty compelling in the short run. A good nap is gold. The new puppy is helping to get me moving and take her for walks. Everyone warns against being purposeless, but honestly, it’s a new experience for me and I am enjoying analyzing how it feels.
Summary for now…
Bottom line, as you can see, is that I really have no plan for the first time. I am just drifting forward on the river of life and seeing where it takes me.
I feel blessed to have worked with some of the smartest, creative, and most innovative people in the world. I am proud of everything I have designed, everyone I have helped, and every experience I have lived through.
I often tell people that the secret to success is Luck. Every successful person has had tons of it. I have been lucky in my career and am grateful for everything morsel of it.
Whatya think?