LTYM - Retiring

Letters to a Young Manager

Retiring, #368
LTYM > Legacy

Dear Adam,

***

Yes, I've retired this year. I've done it before. My generation doesn't really retire; we move on to the next chapter.

I remember a scene in the movie "About Schmidt"[1]. As clock ticks down on his last day in the office he is sitting at his desk, watching the clock, briefcase to his right. The clock clicks to 5:00 PM, he gets up, turns off the light and closes the door as he leaves [2]. All the meaning of his work seemed to have been sucked out of him. I never wanted to be like Warren Schmidt.

Retirement may seem far away. Maybe it will always be. It's how you look at your work. If you are learning and creating and finding meaning, your work never ends.

***

Sincerely,
Ed

________________________

[1] "About Schmidt," 2002, starring Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates.
[2] See the opening scene in the movie trailer, here: http://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi3820224793

Takeaways:

It's never over till it's over

Discussion Questions:

1) How do you view your work? Is it just a job, or is there more?
2) What meaning are you creating, for yourself and for others?

For Further Reading:

1) See "Michelangelo II", Story #297

2) James K. Harter, The Gallup Organization; Frank L. Schmidt, University of Iowa; Theodore L. Hayes, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, "Business-Unit-Level Relationship Between Employee Satisfaction, Employee Engagement, and Business Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis," Of the 12 engagement questions (p. 269), four indicate the level of meaning in your work: "At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day"; "At work, my opinions seem to count"; "The mission/purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important"; and "This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow."

I took early retirement twice; it's never over till it's over
My grandmother and mother saying they heard from God that's there's more work to do.

Gallup Q12 Survey,
p. 269,
"Items Comprising the Gallup Workplace Audit
Overall Satisfaction—On a five-point scale, where “5” is extremely satisfied and “1” is extremely dissatisfied, how satisfied are you with (Name of Company) as a place to work?
1. I know what is expected of me at work.
2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right.
*3. At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.
4. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.
5. My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.
6. There is someone at work who encourages my development.
*7. At work, my opinions seem to count.
*8. The mission/purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important.
9. My associates (fellow employees) are committed to doing quality work.
10. I have a best friend at work.
11. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.
*12. This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow"

James K. Harter, The Gallup Organization; Frank L. Schmidt, University of Iowa; Theodore L. Hayes, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, "Business-Unit-Level Relationship Between Employee Satisfaction, Employee Engagement, and Business Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis," p. 269.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank_Schmidt10/publication/11367971_Business-unit-level_relationship_between_employee_satisfaction_employee_engagement_and_business_outcomes_a_meta-analysis/links/53e298320cf275a5fdda31d0.pdf