When to Stop Working

I think I would have stopped working five years ago if it wasn't for some of the clients I've worked with for a very long time, who made my job interesting and very enjoyable. 

Some have now retired and some have passed the reins to the next generation. That's about where I am, too. I have taken the decision to semi-retire and some of my work has been passed to the next generation.

What usually happens is that, eventually, the current generation of clients will reduce in favour of new clients who require the different set of skills that a new generation brings.

The Time To Stop Working is...

    when it feels like work. 

Not having that income can be a problem. You may have paid off the mortgage and be receiving a private pension but a significant drop in personal income means lifestyle changes. And weaning yourself off the business merry-go-round is a tricky one, therefore a staged retirement plan might work for you.

Those who find lifestyle changes the most challenging are people who have been so wrapped up in their business lives that there was very little provision for anything else. Many of us travelled extensively (pre-covid) both for business and leisure, and may have a desire to continue - or not, with a 'been there, done that' attitude. For example, as a family, we stopped travelling by air during covid and haven't returned to it because our memories of rushing to airports just to wait around for hours have put us off. We've looked at travelling by train but it usually takes hours to reach our desired destinations, usually with frequent changes, and the prices are laughable. As people who like a quiet break away from noise and crowds, we resist the idea of cruises - a floating hotel in an all-inclusive resort. The last time we stayed in a resort-hotel was about 15 or 20 years ago and none of us liked it, so we've have usually opted for a quiet self-catering home in the countryside (Provence, Dordogne, Trossachs, Cumbria, Tuscany and so on - all driveable, albeit with one or two overnight hotel stops).

Unless you plan to travel for several months each year (in which case, downsizing your home seems sensible), you may need to find hobbies. These are wide-ranging: golf, bowls, art, reading, writing, gardening, voluntary work plus many other opportunities. Most of these activities can be solitary or involve a small group of people (popularly believed to be essential to delay deterioration of the brain, such as dementia). Perhaps your 'local' has a regular pub quiz?

One of our clients retired at 50, sold his house and bought a canal boat. Another retired to a warmer climate, as he had the advantage of being an EU citizen (this is where the Brexit outcome spoiled our plans). And we gained a client who, in his 60s, decided to use his retirement to become an author.

So, the question of when to stop working hinges on a number of different situations. If you want to stop and you are able to stop, just bite the bullet and do it. If you find that you need to continue in some form, try easing out, either by working mornings only (which I'm doing) or by dropping a set day to a four-day week, then a three-day week, etc. (which my co-director is planning to do). 

Please add your experience or suggestions via the comments (anonymously, if you prefer).

Refining your Business Niche

When the company was set up almost 35 years ago, the main offering to clients was a writing and design service, which we still offer but possibly not for much longer. Why? Our work in design has decreased as software has become more widely available and students are graduating from a number of related courses, enabling them to work independently if they are unable to secure employment.  

Declining standards of grammar means that our writing, proofing and editing work remain buoyant. However, we have noticed an impact from the number of businesses using Artificial Intelligence, recently, so this may eventually begin to decline.

In the past 25-30 years, website design has been the mainstay of our business but creating an 'all singing, all dancing' website with all its associated costs is proving difficult to offer good value. Added to this, large companies such as IONOS (who reach millions with their TV ads) and other companies who offer easy-peasy-DIY solutions with a low entry cost for their proprietary website creation tools, are taking money from small businesses who are struggling to budget and may also struggle to maintain their website, social media, etc..

We have therefore decided, going forward, to switch from creating corporate websites, too. So what are we offering?

• Wordpress blog set up, can be set up to emulate a website;
• Wordpress blog writing/posting;
• Writing, proof-reading, editing;
• Social media posts - LinkedIn page, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter/X and more.

These are probably functions that you could undertake yourselves but may not enjoy doing them or you just don't have the time. We may be able to help small businesses, individuals, communities, non-profits and local charities in other ways, such as hand-holding and research - just ask. And our rates are probably the lowest you'll find.

Now that we have decided where to focus the business, we'll aim to update the website in the near future.

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P.S. I touched on the affordability of 'slowing down' in a post a year ago. There are several more related posts from 2019, too.

Too Many Plants?

Be useful within your community. We offer our services to community groups who are always grateful for help. Here's one way we've been useful to  a local school. 

Every year, Chlorophytum Comosum (spider plants) produce several 'babies' which are incredibly easy to make into new plants. Just pop the cuttings into a jar of water until some roots begin to sprout, then plant into a pot, watering frequently until the maturing plant is settled. You'll have more cuttings the following year.

What can you do with all the cuttings? 

From each plant, you could have 10 or more cuttings. You pot them up, keep a couple, and offer the rest to people you see regularly. The next year, you may have 20, 30 or more, so you pot them and give these thoughtful gifts to your friends, relatives and neighbours. 

The next year, however, you have to be more creative. Perhaps offer to supply some plants to a local charity stall at the village fête. 

This year, we contacted the local JMI school and asked if they would like some cuttings. They were delighted, as their Early Years Foundation Stage pupils love to grow things. 

You can usually find and follow your local charities, PTAs, community groups, etc. via Social Media.