The Secret to Enjoying a Great Retirement
Issue #2077
- WEALTHY: What to do when you’re ready to stop working (Michael Masterson)
- HEALTHY: A natural sweetener that’s good for your heart (Dr. Al Sears)
- WISE: Barbara Jordan on enjoying every day
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- The "Disappearing Copywriter" speaks up (James Sadler)
- 3 reasons to start Bcc-ing (Roger DeReu)
- It’s Good to Know… about putting steak on a black eye
- Add "defenestrate" to your vocabulary
How Many Automatic Income Streams Can YOU Handle?
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- Patrick Coffey
"I live a day at a time. Each day I look for a kernel of excitement. In the morning I say: ‘What is my exciting thing for today?’ Then, I do the day. Don’t ask me about tomorrow."
Barbara Jordan
The Secret to Enjoying a Great Retirement (and a Lifetime of Happiness)
Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself enjoying your ideal retirement. Perhaps you’re standing knee-deep in a Montana river, fishing for trout. Or strolling through the streets of Prague. Or reading Faulkner on the back porch, listening to the sounds of your grandchildren playing in the yard.
Chances are, your actual retirement will look quite different from the way you’re imagining it. For one thing, the kids playing in your backyard are more likely to be your great-grandchildren - because you’ll probably retire a lot later than you think. If, that is, you retire at all in the traditional sense of the word.
A Vanguard survey released this year found that over 60 percent of Americans (ages 40 to 69) indicated that they’ll include some form of work in their retirement. A study by the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, had similar findings. As reported by CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes, "Nearly 80 percent [of the study’s participants] say they’ll work on a part-time basis well beyond [age 63]." And the massive University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (which surveys 22,000+ Americans over 50 every two years) also found that most Americans would prefer a "gradual retirement" - scaling back on their hours rather than quitting cold turkey - if they had the choice.
In a different sort of world - the kind of world that used to exist - retirement didn’t involve work. You were part of an extended family. When you got old and wanted to stop working, you could do so. Your children would be running the family business. You would be consulted from time to time when important decisions had to be made. Your wisdom would be appreciated. Your instincts revered. You would be surrounded by your loved ones, enjoying the fruits of your combined labor. Everything would be lovely.
In the world we live in today, that doesn’t happen. For one thing, you need money to retire well. A lot of money. So some baby boomers are going to be "forced" to delay their retirement because they simply won’t be able to afford to stop working.
But even if you reach retirement age with millions in the bank, I’m going to argue that there’s a more important reason for you to banish those dreams of an idyllic life of leisure.
To understand what I’m about to say, you have to understand this: Happiness in life comes not from idleness but from working. Not working at a job you hate, but working at tasks you care about.
Given that, the secret to a great retirement is to figure out how to get paid for doing work you would gladly do for free - and to be able to do that work when and where you want to.
Maybe you want to be a writer. Maybe your secret passion is cooking gourmet food. Maybe you’ve always wanted to get back into astronomy or archeology or gardening.
Somewhere in your past is a buried profession - something you’ve long ago given up on. What if you could reprise that dream?
I know a man whose dream was to be a professional pilot. After working 30 years in the wallpaper business, he took my advice and got himself a job flying part-time for a small airline. A few years later, he became a part owner. He’s making more money now doing what he loves than he ever made selling wallpaper. And he only "works" 20 hours a week.
My dad gave up a promising career in show business to become a teacher. Fifty years later, he went back into the acting business and became a professional actor. He acted in all kinds of commercials and soap operas, had small speaking roles in some big movies, and did some big spots in off-Broadway plays. He did it for 10 years, made some money, and had a great time.
The Internet has opened up a world of possibilities for "retirees." I met a guy who trades cigarette lighters online. This happens to be something he always wanted to do and planned to do once he stopped working. But by taking advantage of eBay and other Internet auction sites, he is already making more than $30,000 a year doing it just on weekends. Trading cigarette lighters!
There are plenty of other examples. You can become an Internet copywriter, an Internet editor, an Internet travel agent, or an Internet teacher. You can make money giving marriage or dating advice on the Internet, or even selling underwear. You can use the Internet to make a living from your interest in wild roses, say, or your up-until-now useless knowledge about 19th-century swords.
For the best retirement possible, give up on the idea of playing golf all day. Instead, enrich your life with pursuits that mean something to you… and make money at the same time.
You can start your retirement planning right now by asking yourself the three Big Questions:
1. "What would I really enjoy doing?"
2. "Who would be the best person to do it with?"
3. "Where would I most want to do it?"
You may not be able to find a partner or relocate right away, but you can definitely start mastering the skills you’re going to need for your new line of "work."
[Ed. Note: Why wait until you’re ready to retire to get into a business you love? Learn how to turn your passion, background, or expertise into a profitable, Internet-based, information-publishing business at ETR’s upcoming 5 Days in July Internet Conference.
You can walk in with nothing - no product, no marketing skills, no technical know-how - and walk out with your own online business. If you even think you might be interested in this opportunity, you must sign-up for the 5 Days in July Conference today.]
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The "Disappearing Copywriter" Speaks Up
By James Sadler
When I first started reading Michael Masterson’s story about Brice in his article "The Case of the Disappearing Copywriter," I thought, "Man, someone else referred to himself as ‘the disappearing copywriter.’"
Okay, so it was one of my thicker-headed moments. I didn’t immediately catch on to the fact that Michael changed the name to protect the innocent, so to speak.
You see, I am "Brice K."
(Michael was welcome to use my real name, but he had no way of knowing that.)
In case you’ve been wondering, the response to my "Incredible Disappearing Copywriter" letter has been interesting.
One well-known copywriter e-mailed me and asked what I wanted. I think he was surprised when I told him the letter was not an attempt to get anything. I really was just announcing that I was on the right track and genuinely thanking, in some cases apologizing to, everyone the letter went to.
Another well-known copywriter, who has always been helpful to me, warned that the letter "didn’t do me any favors." I think his feelings were that admitting to my mistakes the way I did may hamper my career down the road.
Yet another recipient e-mailed me, saying he wondered what had happened to me - and immediately gave me a writing assignment.
A pretty mixed bag of responses. Possibly because the letter, which by all appearances is a sales letter, ultimately is not a sales letter. I wasn’t selling anything. Not directly, anyway.
Yes, I did use some of the techniques I’ve learned about copywriting. That’s why there’s a headline, a few nested loops, and a swipe of the great Wall Street Journal letter.
I did want feedback. I guess, on some level, some affirmation that despite past mistakes I could still succeed. And Michael’s article was wonderful, insightful feedback.
He’s dead-on in that I’ve been too self-focused for too long. I have been self-destructive. I still struggle at times to put those days behind me. Old habits die hard.
My schedule for quitting the day job is getting pushed back a bit. That’s not necessarily a terrible thing, as the day job is work as a copywriter at a search engine optimization firm. And the firm values my skills enough to allow me to freelance on the side as an incentive to keep me from leaving.
Still, sometime in the next 30-60 days, I’m making the jump to full-time freelancer. Work is coming in, but not quite enough yet to make the break. But I’m tantalizingly close.
Thank you, Michael, for taking the time to read my letter and comment on it in ETR. I’m really honored. And I appreciate your advice and your criticism more than you know.
A Sugar That Prevents Tooth Decay
Here’s something that may surprise you… a natural sugar that prevents tooth decay and heart disease.
I’m talking about xylitol. It comes from the birch tree and is considered a "wood sugar" - much like the maple syrup that comes from the maple tree. But unlike maple syrup, this sugar has a crystal structure that makes it the perfect sugar substitute.
Xylitol has a 5-carbon molecular structure that does not interact with oral bacteria. Since it doesn’t ferment, it never triggers acid production. That means it helps reduce tooth decay, inhibits plaque buildup, retards the loss of tooth enamel, and lowers infections in the mouth and throat.
And because it inhibits plaque buildup, xylitol also helps prevent heart disease. Here’s why: Plaque build-up creates a breeding ground for bacteria. The resulting inflammation leads to a breakdown of gum tissue. This breakdown allows bacteria to pass into your bloodstream. The release of oral bacteria into your bloodstream stimulates an immune response. This inflammatory response causes arterial blockages and blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack.
What’s more, xylitol is low-glycemic. It doesn’t need insulin to metabolize, and won’t cause fat gain like regular sugar. It’s perfect for diabetics, and is sometimes referred to as "diet sugar."
Xylitol is affordable and easy to find. Check your local health food store or find it on the Internet. Along with stevia, xylitol is one of the safest and best-tasting sugar substitutes.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears is a practicing physician and an expert on heart health. You can learn how to apply his winning heart-healthy strategies in The Doctor’s Heart Cure.]
A Little-Known Aid for Writing Professional and Polite E-mails
When you send an e-mail, you have three choices in the way you list your recipients: via the "To" field, the "Carbon Copy" (Cc) field, and the "Blind Carbon Copy" (Bcc) field.
You probably use the "To" and "Cc" fields most often - but neither is your best option.
I suggest that you use "Cc" when you want to make your main recipient aware that you’re sending the information to someone else. That you rarely, if ever, use multiple "To" entries. And that you use "Bcc" to send everything else.
"Bcc" is a replacement for "Cc" and multiple "To" entries. It’s different, because it prevents recipients from seeing each other’s addresses.
Why should you be gung-ho about "Bcc"?
- It keeps people’s e-mail addresses private.
Whether for privacy’s sake or as a means to reduce spam, some people don’t want strangers to know their e-mail addresses. A banker I know put multiple high-profile addresses in the "To" field of an e-mail, and many of the recipients asked that he be terminated because of it!
- It protects people’s privacy.
You may not want your favorite cousin to know that you still send your yearly holiday update to her ex-husband. Or your colleague may not want his employee to know that they’re both on your wine-lovers e-list. Using "Bcc" keeps everyone anonymous, which can protect business and personal relationships.
- It increases readability.
Listing 30 e-mail addresses in the "To" or "Cc" field looks unprofessional and takes more space on the screen. That makes it harder for recipients to find your actual message. Worse, it can make people feel that the e-mail is unimportant and not worth reading.
So start using "Bcc" when you send e-mails to multiple people. It’s polite, professional, and makes you look good. It could even save your job!
[Ed. Note: Roger DeReu, a participant in ETR’s 2006 5 Days in July Internet Conference, has been working as a programmer, IT specialist, and independent consultant since 1984. A Microsoft Certified Professional and Small Business Specialist, he currently consults with small- and medium-sized businesses. Learn more about making your e-mail communications more professional with Roger’s special report, "How to Improve Your E-Mail Image" - FREE to ETR readers here.]
It’s Good to Know: About Putting Steak on a Black Eye
There is no medical evidence that putting a piece of meat on a black eye will speed your recovery. What works is the cold and the pressure, which can be accomplished with a bag of ice. It also helps to keep your head elevated and avoid blood-thinning ibuprofen or aspirin.
(Source: Why Do Men Have Nipples? by Mark Leyner)
Start Making Money Today
Interested in getting a nice little side-business going on the Internet? Or maybe even from your living-room table?
But you don’t have too much money, you don’t have too much time, and you’re not exactly Bill Gates when it comes to technology. Sound familiar?
A lot of people are in the same boat. The good news is that ETR has heard you. And now we’ve done something about it…
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They say when you’re first getting your feet wet with a side-business, the most important dollar to make is the first one. Well, Marc is an expert at taking beginning entrepreneurs and showing you how to make that first buck. He knows, because he’s done it dozens of times for himself, his family and his friends.
If you’ve been dreaming about starting your own business… now you can get started for about the price of 2 lattes.
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- Patrick Coffey
Word to the Wise: Defenestrate
To "defenestrate" (dee-FEN-uh-strate) - from the Latin - is to throw out of a window.
Example (as used by Jim White in The Independent): "A woman, driven to fury by the manner in which her lover prefers to lavish his attention on a match on the telly rather than her, starts to throw his possessions out of the window. He’s finally moved to stop her when she tries to defenestrate his new Puma boots."
[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker … build your self-confidence and intellect … increase your attractiveness to others … just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR’s new Words to the Wise CD Library.]
Michael Masterson
Copyright ETR, LLC, 2007