Unretirement Project

Bookmark This! #GigEconomy Opportunities Edition

June 28, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Opportunities multiply as they are seized. – Sun Tzu

If the gig economy had an official quote, this would probably be it. Think about it – the more gigs you work, the more people know about you and your work. Thus, your opportunities can multiply. And that brings us to another quote, this one by William Arthur Ward: Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.

The gig economy goes by many other names (agile economy, flexible economy, servant economy, optimized economy) and is defined as a labor market characterized by the prevalence of freelance work. There appears to be more gig opportunities available now than ever before. Since we don’t want to miss them, let’s take a look at a few great resources to help us get the most out of this growing trend.

Careercast has assembled a great list of freelance, contract and part-time jobs for 2017. The list crosses several industries and includes data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) such as projected growth and median salary. And, since they are a job board for temporary and part-time jobs, information regarding how to apply is also available.

Small Business Trends shared their list of “20 platforms that are growing the gig economy”. So, if you aren’t sure which direction to take your unretirement, consider a quick look at this list. Maybe being a Lyft driver isn’t your dream gig, but how about being an expert instructor? Or even a freelance chef? Yes, there are jobs in those areas and platforms dedicated to them.

Still not convinced gig work is for you? The BLS published an article that offers a quick but comprehensive look at the ideal occupations for gig employment, pros and cons of gig work, and different ways to get started. The article also includes a variety of census data on gig workers because, you know, that’s what the BLS is known for.

Finally, if you have the skills but don’t want to be tied to one of the specific platforms we’ve talked about here, consider hanging out your digital shingle. Workify offers what they call Hustleware – their “all-in-one platform for making a living online”. You can digitally set-up shop and market your services all in one place.

Whatever you choose to call it, we know the “agile economy”, isn’t for everyone. But we think it can be a great fit for those who want a little more freedom and income in their unretirement life. Knowledge can give us the tools we need to be successful part-time entrepreneurs.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby during an adventure of a lifetime at the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport

Using Feng Shui to Plan Your Unretirment

June 21, 2017 by Keith Lauby 1 Comment

You may remember at the start of the century, the growing interest in the United States with the Chinese philosophical system of feng shui. If you’re unfamiliar with it, feng shui professes the importance of harmonizing everyone with their surrounding environment. Evidence of this ancient practice dates to 4000 B.C.

Like many westerners, Sharlyn and I were curious about feng shui so we purchased a few books and read some articles to learn a little more about it. Historically, feng shui practices have to do with orienting buildings and their structures, such as doors and windows, relative to local features such as bodies of water or stars. Please note that I in no way profess to be an expert in feng shui. The main thing that I took away from reading about it is that the practices are designed to make your life easier.

That’s what really caught my attention. More than 6000 years after the start of feng shui, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates was believed to have said:

“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” Had Bill known me at the time, he probably would have made me chairman of the board.

And this is where feng shui becomes important in unretirement. Chances are, you won’t wake up one morning and say “Today I will quit my full-time job and focus on my unretirement gig.” Instead, what most of us do is find some spare time to work on gigs on the side. No spare time? No gigs.

So find ways to create a little some spare time by making your life easier. One of Sharlyn’s favorite quotes is by celebrity chef Alton Brown, “Organization will set you free.” So get organized and harmonize yourself with your inbox, your desk, and your to-do list. Focus on the things you do repeatedly throughout the day and find ways to do them easier and faster. A few minutes here and there can really add up.

When planning for your unretirement, you don’t have to be a feng shui master to understand the value of a little harmony.

What We’re UP To: June 2017

June 14, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

Watching | Twin Peaks

> It’s been 25 years, but the Twin Peaks revival has started. Before we start watching the new episodes, we decided to watch the original. I must say, the show has held up well over the years. You know, there are some shows that are 10, 20 years old and they look 10, 20 years old. Not the case with Twin Peaks.

Reading | Toxic Octopus

> I’m a big fan of comedy mystery books. Love Carl Hiaasen and Jana DeLeon. Now I can add Lisa Haneberg to my must-read list. Lisa and I worked on a management development book years ago and she’s branched out to fiction. “Toxic Octopus” is the second book in the series. You can download the first book, “Ghost Rat” for free.

Working On | BlogHer17

> We envision this blog to be different from HR Bartender. While we’ll talk a bit about careers and consulting, we want to also talk about travel, food, and life. Since this year’s BlogHer conference is in Orlando, we decided to go get some ideas and inspiration.

Feeling | Frustrated

> …with my computer equipment. It always seems like whenever I have a bunch of deadlines, my computer decides that the blue screen of death (BSOD) needs to show up. We’re wondering if it’s time to make the transition from PCs to Macs. If you have an opinion, please drop us your thoughts in the comments!

Planning | Menus!

> You guys know that I’m a planner. Spring human resources conference season is ending soon and I’m looking forward to some home cooking over the summer. One of our favorite things to make is pizza on the grill. We’ve been perfecting homemade pizza dough and fresh sauce. Delish!

Loving | Yeti

> I always carry a Yeti in my suitcase. It was wonderful to have it during our cruise to Cuba. When you’re used to having a nice big mug of tea in the morning, the small cups on the ship just won’t do. And we weren’t the only people walking around the ship with Yeti travel mugs.

Geeking | Apple Pay

> I know, I know…Apple Pay has been around for years. I’ve been reluctant to give it a try. But I recently set it up and it is so convenient! Especially at Starbucks. I initially purchased my Apple Watch for the health and exercise features, and I really like that the watch is more than that.

What’s UP with you? Leave us a note in the comments about how you’re spending the summer.

Image of Agent Cooper captured by Keith Lauby

HOW TO: Set Up a Home Office for Unretirement

June 7, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Years ago, my father-in-law gave me a piece of advice – live where you want to live and then go find a job there. It was that piece of advice that made us realize we want to live in Florida and eventually become consultants.

When we first realized that we might want to consult in the future, I took every opportunity to talk with consultants about their experiences. One area where there was quite a bit of differing opinion was office space. Some people told me the first chance you have to lease space, do it. Others said working from home is fine.

In fact, one person told me that it would take two years to get used to working from home. And for me, it did. I was so concerned about getting distracted with Hamster Dance videos that I made myself miserable. Once I lightened up about the benefits and challenges of working from home, I found my productivity (and outlook) significantly improved. So, if part of your unretirement might involve setting up a home office, here are a few things to consider:

Figure out your “flow”. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term “flow” to represent a state of consciousness where you are at peak performance. Finding your flow is uniquely personal. To do your best thinking and work, your office space needs to be comfortable for you. Don’t apologize for it.

Think about proper ergonomics. I broke my back several years ago, and since then, I’m a posture freak. I feel better when I’m sitting up straight. Not only does your home office need to be comfortable but it also needs to be good for your body.

Don’t forget good lighting! We are a very technology driven society, which is fine. I love tech. But I also realize that working and reading in front of a computer are hard on my eyes. Proper lighting, including sunlight, is essential.

Research how much internet you will need. Speaking of technology, chances are you will have to consider internet access in your home office. Even if it is to say, I don’t need it and will go to the library when I do. It’s easy to overbuy (or underbuy) WiFi. Start keeping track of how much you’re using so you can properly estimate your needs.

Make decisions about communication. In addition to internet, you must decide about phones, voicemail, etc. Think about if you plan to do podcasting or webinars as part of your unretirement and if you need to have a phone line. IMHO, you can always tell when someone is trying to conduct a webinar using their cell phone. The sound and reception just isn’t the same.

Create a charging station. Working from home means all your technology needs a place to charge. Will that be in your home office? Or a place somewhere else in the home that everyone can use?

Surround yourself with stuff you like. This might sound a bit trivial but I think it’s important. Make sure you find pleasing what’s on the walls and your desk. Use office supplies that you enjoy. I’m not saying go crazy, but you’ll find that you’re happier and more productive when you like your surroundings.

Think about software. If you will be using a computer, you should think about word processing software, file storage, backups, etc. There are free options available and others that pricey. Consider how much you will use a piece of software and if the price is worth the expense. Many offer free trials to check them out.

Ask about the legal stuff. If you work from home, you must consider general liability insurance as well as your home owner’s insurance. You’ll want to get advice about what’s deductible (and not) on your income taxes. And if you’re working with client files, you’ll want to know about secure storage and how long you need to maintain files.

Anticipate your marketing plans. At minimum, you’ll want to have business cards for your unretirement side hustle. The question becomes, do you list your address? Or set up a post office box? And if a client wants to meet with you, think about where you would suggest.

The good news is that setting up your home office can be one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll have for unretirement. My home office is by far the nicest office I’ve ever had in my career. And that makes it nice to get up and go to work every day. I spend too much time there not to have it be my dream space.

For those of you who work from home, what’s the best part about your office space? Leave us a note in the comments.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby just off the beach in Key West, FL

Cruise to Another World: Havana Cuba

May 31, 2017 by Keith Lauby 2 Comments

Havana is a city in renaissance. It’s a city that clings to its past, parading their classic 1950’s era cars up and down historic cobblestone streets. At the same time, renovation and remodeling construction is everywhere, preserving history and ever so slowly bringing Havana into more modern times. And surrounding it all is the city’s stunning Baroque, art nouveau, and art deco architecture.

Sharlyn and I had the distinct pleasure of cruising the Norwegian Sky to Havana – their third such cruise since travel restrictions were relaxed in 2016. At the time of this writing, however, U.S. travelers must meet one of 12 cultural exchange conditions. Norwegian was very careful to make sure all of their Cuba excursions complied with this legal requirement.

There were two big highpoints for us over the two days in port – a walking tour with a focus on Old Colonial Havana and a visit to Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the National Museum of Fine Arts. Cuba was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus during his 1492 voyage to the Americas and then became a Spanish colony. Fortunately, the Cuban government mandated the preservation of their colonial heritage for the benefit of their citizens and travelers alike.

This was also evident in the National Museum, which showcased Cuban artists from colonial through modern times. The museum’s carefully curated works proudly displayed each artist, showing how their artistic vision evolved over their lifetime. Our guide was diligent in tying each visual portrayal to Cuba’s historic events at the time. This trip also took us to Muraleando, an amazing “community project” in which volunteers help develop local artists.

6 Things You Need to Know

Since traveling to Cuba is still new, it’s constantly changing. But here are some details that we found helpful during our trip.

Customs – Cuba requires U.S. travelers to get a special visa and Norwegian helped us get it for a fee. Over the two days in port, we had to go through Cuban customs six times. Don’t worry, they are very efficient.

Excursions – We were told that the Cuban government runs the tours and we were encouraged to “act like travelers, not tourists”. This is a nice way of saying things may change without notice. They can and do, so expect it.

Weather – Think hot and humid whether you are wandering the streets of Old Havana or inside most of their buildings. Air conditioning is very limited except on the tour busses, which are modern and very comfortable.

Shopping – Some of the excursions include shopping. One of our tour guides took us to a government store where we could purchase coffee, rum, and cigars. There’s also an open market near the port. A little bit of shopping is available at the port terminal.

Money – Speaking of shopping, no credit or debit cards are accepted. While everything Sharlyn and I read said you should exchange U.S. currency at the cruise terminal, we found that everyone took U.S. dollars (though maybe a couple more of them).

Jaw Dropping Moment – rounding a corner on a narrow cobblestone street and walking past an open doorway that led to a small courtyard where a very talented opera singer was performing for a well-dressed crowd at 10:30 AM.

As a couple of travelers who mostly thought of Cuba just in terms of 1959 to today, this Norwegian cruise to Havana was an amazing and humbling adventure. It’s the people! The visual splendor of old cars and incredible architecture pales behind the warmth, knowledge and friendliness of Havana’s proud people. That’s evident in their love of music, dance and community and the inspiring expressions of their storied cultural heritage.

UPDATE (July 2018) – we just returned from a second trip to Havana and loved it just as much as the first! But, as can happen with American travel overseas, the rules and restrictions appear to have changed. As of this date, travel is still legal, but there are updated regulations. So do your research before you book your travel! Ask your tour operator, cruise line or the State Department to know all legal restrictions. For us, it was still another amazing adventure! I’m sure yours will be too.

Norwegian Sky Cuba Cruise Review

May 24, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 7 Comments

Living in South Florida, one of the things that Keith and I have always wanted to do was visit Cuba. So, when Norwegian Cruise Line announced cruises to Cuba, it was the perfect opportunity. We didn’t have to worry about finding a hotel, restaurants, etc. We quickly discovered that it’s hard to find Cuba travel information.

Norwegian Cruise Line started sailing to Cuba in the beginning of May. We were on their third sailing to Havana. In case you’re thinking about visiting Cuba, I wanted to share with you some information about the Norwegian Sky Cuba Cruise, specifically the ship. (FYI – Keith is going to write about Havana next.)

The Ship: There’s no sugar-coating it – the Norwegian Sky is old. I remember the ship when it was the Pride of Aloha (close to a decade ago). In fact, it still has Hawaii posters, meeting rooms, etc. The half-Hawaii/half-Caribbean décor is a little funky. That being said, I believe there’s a difference between old and dirty. Yes, the ship is old. But it was clean.

Cabins: Because the ship is older, it doesn’t have a lot of balcony cabins. We chose a cabin with a large window. The window brought in a lot of light. The cabins also remind me of older hotels in Las Vegas, the rooms are a little bigger than you typically find today.

The Crew: We found the crew to be very friendly – servers, bartenders, cabin stewards, etc. Whenever a crew member walked by, they said hello. I will say that because the Cuba cruises are new, there’s still a learning curve for the crew. For example, we received conflicting information about how many bottles of Cuban rum we could bring back to the U.S. (Side note: Look up Customs information before you leave.) I’m sure the crew will get better with time when it comes to information about Cuba.

Unlimited Drinks: The Norwegian Sky Cuba Cruise is an unlimited drinks cruise. On one hand, it’s really nice not to have to sign a bunch of receipts during your vacation. But I don’t have to tell anyone that “open bar” can also be a negative (envision “booze cruise”). Bottled water is excluded but you can purchase a water package before embarkation. We did – it was in our cabin when we arrived. And we kept it in the refrigerator to stay cold.

Food Service: We took advantage of the buffet for breakfast and lunch. The breakfast buffet included an omelet station, which was nice. It would have been nice to see Cuban food on the lunch buffet. If you’re a coffee/tea drinker, bring a travel mug with you. I loved having a nice cuppa tea in my Yeti each morning. One of the specialty restaurants, Il Adagio, offers pizza and pasta for lunch (no surcharge). You might want to check them out early before everyone discovers it.

Specialty Dining: Speaking of specialty dining, the Norwegian Sky has three restaurants – Cagney’s Steakhouse, Il Adagio (Italian), and Le Bistro (French) – where you can dine a la carte or purchase a dining plan. I would suggest comparing the cost of the dining package to a la carte because the package could be cheaper, depending on your dinner plans. While we had terrific meals in all of the outlets, we loved Le Bistro and thought it was a highlight of our Norwegian Sky Cuba Cruise. It was quiet, great views of the ocean, terrific service, and good food.

Ship Activities: For us, Havana *was* the cruise, so the fact that there was little else in terms of activities that we were interested in wasn’t too big of a deal. That being said, we would have loved to see more Cuban culture in the activities. Because of weather, the Captain did end up canceling the final port stop (Grand Stirrup Cay). This caused quite a commotion on the pool deck. Passengers jockeying for pool chaises. I could only compare it to after-Christmas sales at Filene’s Basement. You can’t blame NCL for the weather. But it is something to keep in mind, especially if you choose to cruise during Hurricane Season.

As we all learn more about traveling to Cuba, I would expect the cruise to change. For right now, the Norwegian Sky Cuba Cruise offers a nice introduction to Havana. In our next post, Keith is going to share his impressions about the city of Havana. Stay tuned…

Image of Havana, Cuba captured aboard the Norwegian Sky

What We’re UP To in May 2017

May 17, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions.

Watching | Death in Paradise

> Keith and I are big fans of the BBC crime comedy/drama “Death in Paradise”. It’s about a London detective transferred to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint-Marie. Definitely worth adding to your binge-watching list.

Reading | Politics

> We’re focused on news and politics. The Skimm is a daily (Monday – Friday) email newsletter that shares political, business, and popular news. I love its irreverent style and direct approach. One aspect of their site that I enjoy very much is Skimm Guides. These are easy-to-read briefings on topics of interest. For example, can’t remember how Brexit came to happen? There’s a Skimm Guide for that. Same with the Paris Climate Change Conference.

Working On | A book!

> I’m in the process of writing my third book. The working title for this one is “The Recruiter’s Handbook: How to Source, Select, and Engage the Best Talent” and it will be published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) later this year. I’ve come to realize that every book has its own personality and as such, demands a unique process and writing schedule. But it’s always fun to see how all the pieces of the project come together.

Feeling | Stronger and healthier

> Getting stronger every day. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’m recovering from ankle surgery. It’s great to be exercising every day and wearing shoes (instead of a cast!) Recoveries still take time and it’s important to follow doctor’s orders.

Planning | And more planning!

> I know it sounds crazy, but I’m already starting my research for 2018 planners and organizers. I’m a ridiculously organized person and deciding on a planner is a major project. This year I’m using Plum Paper. In the past, I’ve used Erin Condren and Passion Planner. I just saw that Michael Hyatt is publishing a planner. So many decisions!

Loving | Adagio Teas

> My evening Foxtrot tea from Adagio. Do you remember buttermints? They’re little pillows of vanilla mint sugar. When I was a kid, they were at fancy restaurants or my parents bought them for the holidays. Well, Foxtrot tea tastes like a liquid buttermint. So delish! And the calories are better too.

Geeking | Mango app

> Both of us have Apple Watches and have been getting pretty frustrated with the reminders feature. We wanted to use it to remind us to take vitamins, especially when we travel. Thankfully, we just discovered the Mango app. You can schedule vitamin and medication reminders as well as habit reminders (like take your blood pressure). It’s compatible with the Apple Watch.

What’s UP with you? Leave us a note about a project or adventure in the comments!

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby on the island of St. Croix