Author: <span class="vcard">Lawler</span>

Author’s Note:

Although the following piece is not directly related to Lawler, it ‘kinda sorta’ is. Let me explain. My first ‘real’ job began in 1957 at age 13, working for Uncle Chet McKone and Cousin Jack at the Phillip’s 66 Station on the west end of the business district. Eventually, we moved to the DX Station on the east end of downtown. After graduating from high school, I worked for a couple of years at the State Bank of Lawler before going to college.

Somehow, when I wasn’t paying attention, 56 years passed like 56 days since that first day at the filling station. As this is written, I am 69. I retired from corporate life in Des Moines at age 65, but made the choice to keep busy . The following piece has been sent to an author specializing in retirement topics. He wants material for a book that he’s updating and I have no idea at the moment whether he will use it. Either way, I want to share it with our Lawler website users. Hope you enjoy the story. (Bill)

Your Encore Career: For Fun or Profit

My final day as an employee in the corporate world, as a trainer for a major life insurance company in Des Moines, was on the last Friday in March, 2009.

My first official day as a self-employed writing coach, freelance writer, and author began three days later on the first Monday of April, 2009.

I jokingly tell my friends who knew that I once taught high school English, “My corporate career was really really good…but this encore career is even gooder!”

There were two factors leading to a seamless transition from reporting for work after a 25-minute commute  downtown, to walking a couple minutes downstairs to my basement home office:

1.) The previous 35-years I had written essays and articles for newspapers and magazines as an avocation. Occasionally there was remuneration, and more often simply the pure joy of seeing my words in print.

2.) I had the privilege of having a life coach for many years, Mary Duwe of Mosinee, Wisconsin, who kept me  focused on the task at hand.

During the final year on my job, each week during our one-hour phone session, Mary reminded me of our theme for the year: GET READY…GET SET!

She asked me how my plans were coming toward the next phase of my life. Something she said stuck with me like glue, “Bill, I’ve watched a lot of people retire and have noticed a trend that can be avoided. If they don’t have a plan for their lives every morning–their days turn to mush!” That possibility had absolutely no appeal to me.

With Mary’s gentle prodding and my desire to avoid sitting in a rocking chair at age 65, we made a plan that has worked out phenomenally well.

It helped that I was gifted with several related passions: I loved writing, enjoyed helping others write, wanted to write a memoir about growing up in the 50s, and now had the time to concentrate on all of the above.

To ensure that potential clients know I was serious, the following steps were taken:

• An attorney helped me form a limited liability company (Sheridan Writes, LLC), so our retirement savings would not be at risk from some frivolous lawsuit
• Established a business checking account and secured a business credit card
• Created my own website (www.sheridanwrites.com) and a business email address (william_sheridan1@msn.com); and ordered professional looking business cards
• Wrote a nine-word mission statement: “My mission is to help you tell your story!”
• Networked to find my first clients. A friend who works with professional speakers led me to several folks who needed help writing books, magazine articles, and web content
• Self-published my first book (Depot Street Memories—The Lawler Stories) to establish credibility
• Presented readings at service clubs, libraries, retirement homes, and church groups encouraging audiences to write their own stories…even if only on a yellow pad…before those stories are lost
• Sold a thousand copies of my printed version, and then uploaded it to Kindle and Nook as an e-book
• Continue to submit articles to newspapers and magazines, most of which are published

Does that mean all I’ve accomplished in ‘retirement’ is work?

Not by a long shot. Renee and I ‘snow birded’ for the first time last year, leaving snowy Iowa to invest the month of February in Florida. I volunteer to teach AARP Driver Safety classes to seniors 5-6 times per year. I go out for lunch or breakfast with former co-workers four or five times per month. I meet my two bible study buddies weekly. My wife and I attend events at Des Moines Civic Center and movies on a regular basis. We’ve reconnected with old friends who were neglected when both did the 9-5 routine. And we go to a bizillion sporting and school events that our two grandsons participate in every year.

It’s been four years since my last day on a corporate job that I loved. As this is  written, I am now 69. Thanks to some great coaching and my own willingness to plan ahead, my days have not turned to mush. And as a couple, we’re having the time of our lives.

My advice to those still in the workforce: Develop a plan. Decide what would be fun and fulfilling. Follow through. Make the rest of your years the best of your years. You do have a choice.

Bill Sheridan

8106 Brookview Drive

Urbandale, IA 50322

William_sheridan1@msn.com

www.sheridanwrites.com

515.669.4913