unretirement Archives – Unretirement Project

What We Are UP To in April 2018

April 18, 2018 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| The Perfect Scam

> Remember the movie “Catch Me If You Can”? Well, fraud expert Frank Abagnale is collaborating with AARP on a podcast series about America’s biggest scams. The series is designed to educate listeners on how scammers operate. I’m looking forward to listening in April…

Reading| About GDPR

> Just in case you missed it, back in 2016, the European Union passed the General Data Protection Regulation (aka GDPR). It’s scheduled to go into effect next month. Whether you live in the U.S, Europe, or another country, this law will have an impact on our data, privacy, and security. It’s worth paying attention to.

Remembering | Las Vegas

>I love visiting Las Vegas. It’s such a vibrant city. Lots of great food, dynamic shows and entertainment, and great people watching. But Las Vegas today is so different than Vegas decades ago. It’s fun to see the history of the city and tour places like the Neon Museum to remember the past.

Working On| Book Marketing

> My third book, “The Recruiter’s Handbook: A Complete Guide for Sourcing, Selecting, and Engaging the Best Talent” was just released earlier in April at the Society for Human Management (SHRM) Talent Conference. So, we’re in full book marketing mode – writing articles and doing interviews. It’s very exciting.

Feeling| Ready

> We’ve been planning this move to Gainesville, Florida for well over a year. It’s nice to see positive movement toward our goal. I’m looking forward to doing some exploring in Gainesville and getting to know the city. And as much as I’ve liked living in Fort Lauderdale, it’s time.

Planning| Self-Care

> With several weeks of travel ahead (along with our move), Keith and I realize that taking care of ourselves is important. It could be a small as taking a few moments to play a favorite tablet game (We both like Bejeweled Blitz.) Or planning a trip to get in some serious rest and relaxation once this April move is behind us.

Loving| Cold Brew

> You guys know I’m a huge tea fan. But when it comes to a cold caffeinated beverage, my favorite is cold brew. I was recently in Portland, Oregon and got my fill of Stumptown Roasters. Luckily, I don’t have to wait for trips to Portland to get Stumptown – it can be found at the grocery store.

Geeking| Jigsaw Puzzle

> Growing up, I enjoyed jigsaw puzzles. For birthdays and Christmas, my father would give me jigsaw puzzles. We would always have a table in the family room with a big jigsaw puzzle on it. Now that I’m grown, I’m less inclined to do physical puzzles, but I have a jigsaw puzzle app. I can pick the puzzles I want, the number of pieces, etc.

What’s UP with you?

What We Are UP To – February 2018

February 28, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby 4 Comments

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

Watching | Black Panther

> We’re big fans of the Marvel Universe, so we’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Black Panther. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so all I’m going to say is … it lives up to all the February hype. Try to find time to see it on the big screen.

Reading | Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

> Mary Roach is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. I really appreciate the way she explains science in a casual, conversational tone, with just the right amount of dry wit. In this book, Roach dives into the subject of the ghosts, spooks, and the afterlife. What I like most about this book is that she gives the topic the respect it deserves, regardless of your beliefs.

Remembering |Our 1-Year Anniversary

> We started Unretirement Project one year ago in February and we’re so glad we did it. Thank you for reading our articles and sharing your thoughts with us. We’re looking forward to more good times as we continue on our unretirement journey together. ICYMI – This was the first post that launched this blog.

Working On | Growth Matters Network

> I have a new project that I’m working on with SAP Small Business. I’m part of a small group of business professionals who will be having regular conversations about business, marketing, talent, etc. on the Growth Matters Network. The discussions are open to everyone, so if you’re interested join the network and be a part of the conversation.

Feeling | Accomplished

> Keith and I have been downsizing and decluttering little by little over the past few weeks. It’s amazing how one minute we feel like we haven’t made a dent in the project and the next we look around and say “Wow! Look at how much we’ve done!” There’s still a lot to do after February, but we’re getting there. And it feels great to be accomplishing things.

Planning | Lifestyle Journals

> Plum Paper has a new offering that’s caught my attention – lifestyle journals. They focus on meetings, travel, meal planning, budget, and gratitude. All with the beautiful style we’ve come to expect from Plum Paper. I’m very tempted to give one a try.

Loving | Stainless Steel Straws

> A few years ago, I read about using stainless steel straws for beverages. I was a little concerned about whether I would like them in general. And Keith was concerned about cleaning them. But our concerns were unfounded on both fronts. Great for smoothies, easy to clean, and good for the environment!

Geeking |Apple HomePod

> Yep, we did it. Broke down and got ourselves a HomePod. We still have our Amazon Alexa but wanted to give this one a test drive as well. We’re still trying to figure out HomePod’s full capabilities, but I will say that the speakers are noticeably better than Amazon.

What’s UP with you?

How to Start a Blog In Your Unretirement

February 14, 2018 by Keith Lauby 2 Comments

Blogging started back in 1994. At that time, they were mostly the work of a single individual about a single subject. In 2017, it’s estimated there are more than 440 million personal and corporate blogs in existence. And they cover far more subjects that we can even begin to imagine.

Blogging can be a very satisfying pastime. Sure, there’s a learning curve – just like there is for everything. But today, it’s easier than ever and there are plenty of resources to help you along the way. Done right, a blog can even be monetized to provide a source of revenue in your unretirement.

If you are considering blogging, there are 5 things I would recommend giving careful thought:

Think about the platform. There are many places to blog. Sites like Google’s Blogger have been around since 1999. In recent years, Tumblr has become extremely popular. This blog (and our first one, HR Bartender) are on a self-hosted WordPress site and it has worked very well. Just do your homework about what platform you want to blog on.
Figure out why you want to blog. Maybe it’s because you have something you want to say. It might be to find clients for your consulting business. Or to directly make a little extra money. But it’s important to know why you’re blogging, because it will drive other decisions along the way.
Never say never. Be open to opportunities as they arise. The reasons you blog may change over time. Just understand how that change impacts other aspects of blogging. For instance, if you just blog for fun, you can immediately publish whatever comes to mind. If you want to monetize, your readers and potential sponsors may have different expectations.
Carefully choose your blog’s name because, no matter why you blog, you will need to market So, develop a name that helps you accomplish your blogging goals (see #2). Just remember, it can be very hard to successfully change your blog’s name and rebrand down the road.
Think about how much time you want to spend. Blogging can sometimes take a lot of work. You might start off slow – maybe once a week. Then put yourself into the shoes of your audience. Knowing what your audience wants is important when deciding how long a post should be or how frequently to publish.

Don’t worry, these considerations aren’t designed to scare you. Taking a little dedicated time on the front end should help eliminate a few frustrations down the road. And, if you’re curious why the list has little to do with writing, it’s because we all have something to say. That part you’ve already taken care of!

Do you have any questions about blogging? Let us know and we’ll try to answer them!

How to Effectively Transition from Full Time to Part Time Work

January 24, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

One of the great things about planning our retirement is that we don’t have to go from working full time one day to not working at all the next. Part of that is being driven by organizations that realize they don’t want to lose talented employees. Frankly, they can’t afford to. Unemployment is at a historic low.

But the other piece driving companies to discuss phased retirement strategies are employees. People just want to work longer. Maybe not in a full time capacity, but they still can and want to contribute. I happen to work with someone who falls into the category. She just recently made this transition from full time to part time work.

Joyce Maroney is executive director of The Workforce Institute at Kronos, a think tank focused on empowering organizations through education and research. I serve as an advisory board member for the Institute. When I heard what Joyce was planning, I asked her if she would share her story and thankfully, she said “yes”.

Joyce, how did you decide that transitioning from full time to part time work was right for you?

[Maroney] I have been thinking about my retirement strategy for a few years. My husband retired completely in 2012, and we wanted to spend more time together. At the same time, I enjoyed my job and wasn’t ready to give up the intellectual stimulation of my work or the professional collaboration with colleagues inside and outside of Kronos. Finally, since it will be a few more years until I am eligible for Medicare and other senior benefits, part time work allows me to pay for benefits I need and to enjoy things we like to do like travel without relying entirely on savings to do so.

Walk us through your development of the conversation with your boss.

[Maroney] I began discussing retirement strategy with my boss in January 2016. It was he who initially suggested part time work after my desired retirement start date of January 1, 2018. At that point in 2016, I had been with Kronos for almost 10 years and had a broad portfolio of responsibilities.

There was one particular responsibility, however, for which there was no clear alternative internal owner. I had founded The Workforce Institute @Kronos in 2007. This is a think tank through which we publish research, expert opinions, books, and podcast interviews related to human resource management. In that capacity, I had been (and continue to be) a company spokesperson as well. We agreed that this was a job that I could do almost entirely from home and on a flexible schedule. Once he suggested this, I leapt at the opportunity to make it work.

How did you prepare Kronos for your transition to part time work?

[Maroney] The conversation with my boss continued as we discussed how to structure my team and their work beyond my transition. My planned departure gave us plenty of time to revisit the mission of the team, realign resources, and identify and develop my successor. We decided on an internal successor by mid-2016.

Once that decision was made, I began to involve her in any strategic decisions (hiring, for instance) that would have ramifications for her beyond my departure. I told my direct reports a little more than a year in advance, and the broader organizational announcement was made about 3 months in advance of my transition.

What would you say has been the easiest part about the transition?

[Maroney] Because we had plenty of time to plan the transition, I feel very good about the personal and professional impacts of my departure from my former day job. I have so much confidence in my successor and she was nothing but gracious during the last few months of 2017 by which time she was already doing the job with me on the sidelines as an advisor as necessary. Also, because I am still a part time employee of Kronos, she knows I’m easy to find if she needs my help.

On the flip side, what’s been the most challenging?

[Maroney] Because this change is still new, I’m still figuring out how to best organize my time. After almost 40 years of full time employment that included raising two children, extensive traveling, and long commutes, it’s hard for me to fully comprehend that I have so much more free time. I’ll be working 15-20 hours a week most weeks. I’m trying to stop feeling guilty when I go for a walk or run an errand in the middle of the day.

Last question. Now that you’re not working full time, what are you doing with that extra time?

[Maroney] First up is a major item from my bucket list – to visit Japan. My husband and I are taking a two-week tour of Tokyo and Kyoto later this month.

I am doing more of the things that have always been important, but always took a back seat. As a result, I’m spending more of my time cooking and going to the gym. I’m doing more of my fair share of walking the dog. I’ve been quilting for 20 years, and am looking forward to developing my artistic skills more deeply in this area of my life. I’m reading more – with the goal of reading a book every week in 2018. We moved to a new town within the last year, and I plan to increase my volunteerism here. Lastly, I have time to spend with my husband doing nothing but enjoying each other’s company.

I want to extend a HUGE thanks to Joyce for sharing her story. There were two big takeaways for me: 1) Don’t make the assumption that the company is ready to usher you out the door at the first mention of retirement. And 2) Successful planning can create a win for both the employee and organization.

Reinventing Your Career Is Not Age Dependent

November 8, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I recently ran across an article on Sixty and Me titled “14 Ways to Reinvent Yourself After Your Career Ends”. It’s a good read worth checking out. But I wanted to add my own two-cents to the subject of reinventing your career.

On some level, I think that’s what this blog is all about – reinvention. It’s about reinventing retirement, whether that’s in your career, lifestyle, etc. To me, reinvention is about change. And successful reinvention is about managing change successfully.

That being said, we need to remember that reinventing yourself happens at every age. Yes – it’s true that we might need to reinvent ourselves in our 60s. But chances are, this isn’t our first reinvention. We probably have reinvented ourselves at least once. Maybe it was after a promotion. Or when we changed jobs or companies. Or when we learned a new skill.

As you’re thinking about your career and the future, consider the times you’ve had career change – both the good and the bad. Use it as an opportunity to make some decisions. If you’re in your 20s or 30s right now, thinking “I’ll deal with this when I’m old.” Guess what? You’ll be faced with reinvention long before then.

Next, your career ends when you say it does. No one else decides that for you. I want to draw a distinction between jobs and careers. It’s possible a company might eliminate your job. But that doesn’t mean they took your career away. You can still pursue your career with another organization or become a freelancer or consultant, offering the same services.

Now, this doesn’t mean our career decisions are always easy. At some point, we have to decide if we can physically, mentally, and emotionally continue our career. We also have to decide if we want to redesign our career. We can take the parts we like best and focus on those. Stop doing the things that have become challenging or we simply don’t like.

It’s important to realize that reinventing your career doesn’t just happen at age 60. For me, a car accident at age 23 made me reinvent my career. That’s how I ended up in human resources. The car accident didn’t end my career. In fact, it opened a door for me that I never thought existed.

Instead of viewing it as the end of something, maybe it’s time to look forward to reinventing our careers. It might just be a wonderful change.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring Naples, FL

What We’re UP to – October 2017

October 25, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching | Good Eats

> Keith and I are foodies and nerds. That makes us big fans of Alton Brown’s old show “Good Eats”. Needless to say, we were very excited to hear that Good Eats is making a comeback. Details TBA. In the meantime, we’ll continue to watch the oldies.

Reading | Urban Monk

> I’m fascinated with the practice of mindfulness. Earlier this year, I had the chance to meet Pandit Dasa at a conference. He graciously gave me a copy of his book “Urban Monk”, which is about being a monk in New York City. Wonderful read about life, change, and balance.

Remembering | Tom Petty

> I grew up listening to Tom Petty. And of course, being from Florida, he was one of us. I must admit as I get older, it’s hard having the celebrities that I watched or listened to as I was growing up leave us. I know none of us will live forever, but at least Petty’s music will.

Working On | Decluttering

> We’ve been in a constant state of cleaning in October. Hurricane Irma made us clean up leaves and branches. Our new Apple iMacs have forced us to clean out software, cords, and cables. Meanwhile, we’re trying to slowly declutter our personal belongings for next year’s move. Swedish Death Cleaning here I come!

Feeling | Excited

> Lots going on but all is well. The holidays are coming and that will be fun. I have a few trips planned which I’m looking forward to. Changes are coming and that’s very exciting.

Planning | Photo-a-Day Project

> Every year I say I will do a photo-a-day project. And somehow it moves down on the priority list. I’m hoping if I publically declare it on the blog, it will guilt me into it. LOL! 2018 is the year I’m doing a photo-a-day. Perfect way to document our move from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville, FL.

Loving | Pumpkin Spice

> I will totally admit I like pumpkin spice in October. I’ve always loved pumpkin, so when an entire season popped up to celebrate this squash plant, I’m on board. I’m not a fan of pumpkin Cheerios but pumpkin spice Oreos are exceptionally good. And I treat myself to one pumpkin spice latte a year.

Geeking | Writing Apps

> With my new iMac comes some adjustments. The software programs I previously used to help with grammar, formatting, etc. aren’t Mac compatible. So, I’m searching for new ones. If you have any suggestions, let me know. I’m checking out Ulysses and Hemingway right now.

What’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico

Relocation? 8 Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Retire

October 18, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

At some point, everyone thinks about where they want to retire. Even if it’s for a fleeting moment, we ask ourselves the question. I know many people who are downsizing – the kids are gone and they just don’t need the space. Or they want relocation to someplace where it’s warmer. Regardless of what prompts the conversation, there are a few things to consider when thinking about where to retire.

I’m sharing this list with you because these are the items Keith and I thought about when we made our decision to move. Yep, at some point next year, we will be moving to Gainesville, Florida (Home of the Florida Gators football team.) We’re very excited about the relocation and promise to share more as things happen.

Arts, Culture, and Sports – Does the city offer the types of activities you like to do? If you like the theater, there’s no sense in moving to some place without it. If you enjoy museums, does the city have some? We’re excited that Gainesville has several parks and nature trails. And while neither of us graduated from UF, my guess is we will get caught up in college sports. (I think it might be a requirement of living there.)

History, Demographics, Religion, and Politics – It’s pretty easy to look up the history of a city on Wikipedia. You can also check out census information and demographics in terms of gender, age, etc. It could also make some sense to look at the last election results. Do you feel your voice will be heard? And make sure you feel you can openly practice your faith in the city you choose.

Family and Friends – Most people already think of this, but it needs to be on the list. On a personal note, relocation is a little bittersweet for us. We will be moving away from terrific friends, but we are moving a little bit closer to family. The good news is we’re staying in the state, so hopefully, we can visit often. And Orlando is a great halfway point to connect.

Finances and Cost of Living – I think it’s hard to figure out actual cost of living. We looked at those online indexes but I think you can get a better feel when you’re actually spending time in the city. Go to a grocery store and check out prices. Eat dinner at a few different types of places. We’ve been told that property taxes are higher in GNV because of the university, but food and housing are definitely less expensive.

Health Care – Does the city you’re considering have enough health care options? And if this is what you’re calling “your final relocation”, do they have senior or elder care options? I know we don’t like to discuss these things but, at some point, you have to.

News – What makes the news in your chosen city? We added a section to our Google News feed so we could see what people in Gainesville were talking about. Interestingly, it also gave us some perspective about crime in the area, because crime makes the news.

Travel – Since we’re still working full-time, having access to an airport is essential. We’re only a couple of hours from Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando. Gainesville has a small airport that flies to Atlanta. And from ATL, you can get anywhere. We also enjoy cruising, so lucky for us there are several cruise ports nearby.

Weather – I know a lot of people want to retire in the warmer temperatures. That’s great, just realize there are tradeoffs. We’re giving up wearing shorts in December, but we don’t have to deal with putting hurricane shutters on our house when we’re in our 70’s. Every city has something.

You probably noticed that I intentionally put the list in alphabetical order. That’s because the priority you attach to each one could be different. For some people, family might be the number one consideration. And for others, it might be finances or weather or something else.

Making the relocation decision for retirement is a big one. It takes time. Keith and I easily spent over a year talking about it. Hopefully, a list like this will give you a few things to consider as you’re making decisions about how to spend your unretirement.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the 34th Street Graffiti Wall in Gainesville, FL