“Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work.”
~ Kahlil Gibran
We’re trapped in a cycle of working for others.
We’re trying to climb corporate ladders.
We’re chasing the dream that’s been sold to us: Work hard. Save up. And you’ll finally be able to…
…retire someday.
But here’s the truth: Stashing away money for a distant future isn’t truly retirement.
It’s just… delaying life. A waiting game.
As Naval Ravikant said in a podcast with Joe Rogan —
“Retirement is when you stop sacrificing today for some imaginary tomorrow when today is complete in itself.”
3 types of people get this & try to approach it in their own ways:
👉 The Savers.
Those who save a lot of money. They hope to use this saved money to live. It’s a common approach.
👉 The Minimalists.
These are people who don’t need a lot or nothing at all. Imagine monks; they live simply and often rely on the help of others.
And the 3rd type…
👉 The Passionates.
These are people who create something they love. The belief is, that if you provide genuine value, money tends to find its way to you.
Julia Child turned her love for French cuisine into a pioneering cooking show.
Phil Knight merged his passion for athletics and shoes to create Nike.
Eiichiro Oda pursued his dream relentlessly to create “One Piece,” one of the best-selling comic series of all time.
Each one found a unique calling, and instead of merely chasing profits, they pursued excellence and authenticity in their fields.
Take this newsletter for instance.
I’m not here to become a millionaire from this. But for me, this is something purposeful. I know that I’m creating something and money won’t be an issue in the near and distant future.
And here’s where Naval’s words resonate again —
“Today in society you get rewarded for creative work, for creating something brand new society didn’t even know yet that it wanted, and it doesn’t know how to get other than through you.”
That’s the REAL deal about retirement!
The point is that your retirement is in your hands.
It’s neither an age nor a bank balance. It’s a mindset.
Will you wait till you’re 65? Or will you strive for your personal “retirement” starting now?
Embrace this perspective, realign your goals, and every day lived with purpose is a day closer to your unique definition of retirement.