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How A New Chapter in Life Begets More Enthusiasm than Gardening

When people ask me if I plan to retire, these days I reply, “No, I prefer refirement.”

That usually brings a quizzical look. I quickly explain that no, I am not repeatedly firing employees. Nor am I repeatedly firing myself. And it has nothing to do with reglazing pottery. Instead, “refirement” means getting fired up again for the next phase of life.

For me, refirement has allowed me to pour my 45 years of success into a renewed sense of purpose. When I “refired” myself in 2020, I founded Tompkins Ventures, embracing this new chapter with enthusiasm.

Traditional Post-Retirement Options … No Thanks

Traditional retirement usually marks the final chapter of your professional life. Time to relax, unwind and enjoy the fruits from your decades of hard work.

Emphasis on the word “your.” You are not me. I am not you.

And anybody who knows me knows that slowing down and stepping away is not my forte. That idea has no appeal to me whatsoever.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m willing to try anything once. So, I tried retirement – briefly.

In fact, I stayed retired for all of three weeks. For those three weeks I lacked structure and purpose.

Frankly, I was bored.

Why stop doing what I love and start a garden? Why sit on a beach and 1) fight sunburn or 2) hide from the sun under an umbrella?

I find too much excitement in the challenges of building something new.

So, What is Refirement?

Refirement reignites your original passion, the same drive and fire you had when you embarked on your career.

However, with refirement, you can draw from years, even decades, of experience. Consider refirement a more educated version of the gung-ho attitude from way back then.

For me, the concept of being “refired, not retired” reignited my passion. I started Tompkins Ventures with the idea of going beyond consulting. I wanted to use my wealth of connections to match problems and opportunities with innovations. I wanted to apply Metcalfe’s Law to business networking.

I wanted to pursue new avenues with the same vigor and determination that characterized my career over 40 years earlier.

Refiring is about more than just staying busy; it’s about finding a new purpose and channeling my energy into something meaningful.

Looking back, even though I tried it briefly, retirement was never an option. I really enjoy my work. Refiring offered me a solution by providing a new goal to strive toward, a way to channel my 45 years of success and mistakes while helping others.

I mean hello, I am ready to Go! Go! Go! To make a difference. I am 36 years old again. (Well, not really, but I feel like it!)

Starting Anew with Enthusiasm

For me, starting a new business four years ago after just three weeks of retirement has been incredibly fulfilling. It allows me to leverage my 45 years of experience, knowledge and skills in a new and exciting way.

The enthusiasm that comes with launching a new venture has been invigorating, providing a sense of purpose and direction. This renewed energy has led to personal growth and satisfaction, as well as the opportunity to continue to make a lasting impact on my profession.

The Benefits of Refiring

I have discovered numerous benefits to refiring instead of retiring. Let me count my blessings:

  1. Refiring has kept my mind active and engaged.
  2. Refiring has contributed to my ongoing physical and mental health.
  3. Refiring has provided me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
  4. Refiring makes me feel good about myself, and I really enjoy helping others.
  5. Refiring has created a retirement income that I can use to donate to worthwhile causes and invest in several start-ups. Oh, and several great vacations! Without having to cash out any stocks or bonds.

Overcoming Challenges Enhances Exhilaration

While the idea of refiring is exciting, it’s not without its challenges. Starting a new business requires dedication and hard work.

But to me that is fun. In fact, after 45 years at my first company, it is really cool to be making mistakes again. Looking back, I did not have a lot of fun the last 10 years before my brief retirement.

Why? Because I wasn’t learning as much.

You learn from mistakes, and I made plenty of mistakes in my early years in consulting. So, I wasn’t making as many mistakes. That means I wasn’t learning as much.

Now, I have a new business, Tompkins Ventures. I am making many new mistakes. That means I’m learning more, and I love it.

And I’m concentrating more on creating value and helping people, not retirement savings, retirement accounts, Social Security benefits …

Bottom Line: Choose Wisely

Choosing to refire instead of retire is a bold and empowering decision. It represents a commitment to continuous growth, learning and contribution.

If you embrace this new chapter with enthusiasm and dedication, you too can find renewed purpose and fulfillment. For you, refirement could mean starting a new business to generate new income streams. But it could mean pursuing a passion or making a difference in the community. What you choose does not matter – but you should choose.

For example, while gardening does not appeal to me, some love digging in the dirt. If that’s you, become a master gardener and train new generations.

With people living longer, refiring offers a unique opportunity to redefine what retirement means and create a new vibrant, meaningful life.

So, here’s to being refired, not retired. Embrace the future with open arms and a heart full of passion.

You don’t have to make retirement plans just because your birthday cake has enough candles to create a bonfire. The important thing is that you decide what is best for you. And I wish you all success in whatever path you take.

I am glad I am refired. Who knows, in 10 years I may retire from refirement.