Yesterday, I received this joke about retirement

Question:  How many days in a week?  
Answer:  6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday.
Question:  When is a retiree’s bedtime?  
Answer:  Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch. 

Question:  How many retirees to change a light bulb?  
Answer:  Only one, but it might take all day. 
Question:  What’s the biggest gripe of retirees?  
Answer:  There is not enough time to get everything done.

Question:  Why do retirees count pennies?  
Answer:  They are the only ones who have the time.  

Question:  What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire? 
Answer:  NUTS!   

Question:  Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage? 
Answer:  They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there. 

Question:  What is the best way to describe retirement?  
Answer:  The never ending Coffee Break. 

Question:  What’s the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree? 
Answer:  If you cut classes, no one calls your parents. 
And, my very favorite…. 
QUESTION:  What do you do all week?  
Answer:  Monday through Friday, NOTHING….. Saturday & Sunday, I rest.

And that was the abbreviated version. But behind the joke is a more pertinent question. If retirement is so wonderful, how can we get there that bit quicker?

As a business mentor, I effectively ask that question almost every day of my clients. Whether as a start up or as an on-going concern, they come to me with great ideas and say “I’m stuck – Help me!”

All too often, we discover that two key ingredients are missing.

VISION – it is often incomplete. The concept of why you want to do something has not been fully thought through

TIMELINE – people tend to be so concerned with immediate tasks that they forget about longer term milestones. Perspectives become lost or muddled.

Yes, there are may solutions. They often relate to the issue of instituting building blocks or aids that will allow you to look beyond the present. For example, start working with a friend or mentor. 

That way, you might be able to retire that bit earlier and really start to do the things you want to do and deserve.