It's only the young who should retire early

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 6, 2011 -- (Original article available at: http://www.globalblackswan.com/blog/its-only-young-who-should-retire-early)

My father in law spent his whole life waiting for retirement. I, on the other hand, hate the thoughts of retirement and think how very lucky I am to keep working at what I enjoy right up until the day I leave this earth. What made me start thinking about this is that Alex Ferguson, Manager of Manchester United, keeps getting asked when he will retire, as he is 69 this year. Surveys reveal that most people would like to retire young—55 or younger—and many would choose their 30s or 40s if they could. Well, Ferguson's answer is that he is too old to retire, and its only young people who can retire as then they can go and do something else. Statistics show that those who are over fifty and find themselves out of work have only a one in ten chance of being re-employed. One of the arguments is that the old fogies should get out of the way as they are hogging jobs from the younger people. Older people and younger workers aren’t substitutes for one another. They complement each other. Who says you are crap at 65? I have met many who were pretty poor at 30. Who says 65 is the right/wrong age to retire? My questions are: Are you still making a contribution? Are you still passionate and committed? Do you still feel independent, inspired and inquisitive? If the answer is yes to all of these questions then you are too good to retire.

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."

George Bernard Shaw
Epistle Dedicatory to Arthur Bingham Walkley
“Man and Superman: a Comedy and a Philosophy”

(Original article available at: http://www.globalblackswan.com/blog/its-only-young-who-should-retire-early)

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