Don't Wait Until Retirement! A Career Strategy for Lifelong Earning

What an exciting title!
I like this kind of thing. (That's why I bought it.)

What exactly is "retirement"?

Having changed jobs twice, my retirement bonus will be small, so I have no intention of waiting until retirement age anyway.

This book contains content that is just as radical as its title.

The target audience is middle-aged people!

Let's learn together!💪

To all the hardworking middle-aged people out there

It is said that modern business people, especially those in their 40s and 50s, are living in a stifling society and have lost their vitality.

I feel the same way when I look at the faces of the older guys in my company. We are supposed to be setting an example for the younger generation, so this is not good.

This book was written with the hope that you will be a vibrant and energetic middle-aged person.

It is we who create the era!

I also hope that all you middle-aged people will have that kind of mindset.

Have a sense of crisis!

I mentioned that the middle-aged people in my company lack vitality, but they also seem to lack a "sense of crisis" as well. Even when I talk about books, they have no reaction because they don't have the habit of reading.

Are they really going to be okay?

I can't help but worry.

I would be happy if this note serves as a trigger for you to think, "Oh... things might be bad if I keep going like this," and leads you to pick up this book or take some kind of action.

By the way, this book really stirs up a sense of crisis (lol).

The idea that you can't expect growth as you get older is a lie.

"Once you're in your 40s, you can't expect much growth..."

That is not the case, and this book strongly emphasizes that.

It is quite critical of getting certifications, but it does mention that you should at least have bookkeeping and IT literacy skills.

I am also lost regarding the direction of my growth within the company, but outside of work, I am working hard on reading, getting certifications, and outputting what I learn.

One thing to be careful of is learning the wrong things.

It warns against people who attend seminars excessively but don't gain anything from them. This is something I want to be careful about as well.

"If it doesn't lead to any output, it's a waste of time," is the blunt message from this book.

Therefore, I want to output and turn it into action.

The advice that "if you want to build connections, go to a bar instead of getting an MBA" made me chuckle, but I also felt it was true.

In the section recommending job changes, what startled me was

"First, improve your first impression"

the advice. I thought that since I'm married with four children, there was no point in improving my appearance now, but I want to change that.

Discard what makes you unhappy.

"Are you making yourself unhappy by being trapped by old values and stereotypes?"

This is what this book asks.

I also stop and look back from time to time, and I think there are still some mysterious prides and fixed ideas that I haven't been able to let go of.

If you have even the slightest desire to change, then

letting go of your pride and taking a step down,

targeting small and medium-sized enterprises without successors for a job change,

or working abroad,

the suggestions in this book might seem appealing to you.

Continue to be someone who can earn money.

Ifyou have no intention of changing jobs, this book recommends that you "devote all your energy to your hobbies."as well.

When you get home from work,do you really have time to mindlessly watch TV or YouTube? What is important in life? The book hits a sore spot with questions like these.

If you start in your 40s andcontinue for 10 or 20 years, it should become a hobby that earns you money.

Even if you say that,I don't know what I should do!

I'm sure many people feel this way.Rest assured, the book also contains solid advice. For example,

and so on.

That said,you won't know until you try. That is whytrying everything,taking that first step forward is important.

It reminded me of the book "Source" I read a long time ago.You should just do everything you think of.

Sow seeds. Look for seeds.

The author, Mr. Naruke, says he is always looking for business seeds no matter what he is doing.

That attitude is wonderful, isn't it?

What is that? Why is it like that?

I want to look at the world with a flexible mind like a child, or perhaps like a philosopher.

Sowing seeds is important as well, but I feel that there are surprisingly many seeds just lying around.

Summary

Instead of lamenting a dark future, if you take measures now, you can create a future where you can live happily

That is what this book says. I truly think so. I cannot "wait" until I am 60 or 65 years old.

I have been sharing what I learn on this note for over three and a half years, and reading this book made me feel that my direction is not wrong.

However!

I haven't cared about my first impression at all, so I felt that I need to make an effort to improve my appearance (lol).

That is all for today's learning. Thank you for reading!
Please come back again. 👋

I was introduced by Kishakoku-sensei!
Thank you very much ✨

Reading period: 2024/06/23-2024/06/28
First edition published: 2018/10/02

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<Who is Hiroaki Takahashi, the author of this article?>