When I was in my mid 50's I thought only of getting to my job in the week and resting on the weekend. By the time I reached 60 and was getting tired of the daily grind and looking around for a more altruistic business to work for I found it in a Not-for-Profit and thought I could work until I qualified for a pension.
I was in my 60's before I realised that I was going to have to drastically reduce my lifestyle in retirement! Relying on a pension could mean my income was less than half what I was used to!
I was divorced and working in a less than satisfactory job and began to wonder how I would find value in myself when I wasn't working in a 9-5 role.
I'm sure you have done the same. Asking yourself, "What am I actually going to do when I stop working in full time employment"? We all can have hobbies but aren't they just that, Hobbies? Yes, they can be uplifting and exciting and satisfying and maybe even lucrative. But will they fill the space of the goals and achievements you are used to having? Will you feel valued, outside of the environment of keeping businesses afloat and offering service to the public, or whatever it was that you did before you officially 'retired'?
Do you find yourself in this position? I’m sure you have thought about it often. Will my pension give me a lifestyle I enjoy? How many years will it last? Do I need a Million dollars?
(For a Australian working now in January 2026 the estimated Super Savings at Retirement (Age 67)
For a comfortable retirement (assuming you own your home and will receive at least a part Age Pension):
-
Single person: ≈ $595,000 in Super)
What is enough to take care of myself and what am I going to be able to leave my kids after I’m gone? Will there be anything left by then, what with interest rate rises and the cost-of-living ratios and of course the cost of fuel and heating bills!
I found myself at 66 out of a job by someone else’s decision to downsize the department I worked in. My role was considered of no value as my salary was an expense not viable to the new business model. At first I thought, 'Great! I can retire early!" Then I realised that I wouldn’t qualify for the retirement Pension until I was 66 and 6 months. Great! Not so much fun after all! Yeah, I had a bit of private pension but the short story there is that I made a couple of ineffective decisions in the 2010's which meant I only had a little. Plus, here I could add another side story of government decisions affecting women approaching retirement in a negative way. (eye roll). https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Economic_security_for_women_in_retirement/Report/c08?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Eventually I decied that at last I would be able to start my own business now I also had time on my side and so I started seriously looking online for some ideas. I had thought about Affiliate businesses several times but couldn’t find a niche I felt would serve anyone honestly and with good returns on my investment of time. I thought about selling on Amazon but didn’t feel I had the right product. I was looking for the next big thing! It didn’t jump into my email inbox!
So, I parked the idea for a while and proceeded to allow myself some space to pursue my hobby and try to sell at a market on a weekend. Then took off travelling for an extended break from my life as it was becoming clear I needed to make some big decisions about how I intended to live the next 30 years. Well, at the very least the next 10! 🙂
Then while scrolling through my Instagram 3 months later, I saw a story of a young bloke making a business around his interests in dirt bike riding. Of course, at first I thought, “huh, that won’t work”, but his story intrigued me, and I found myself following the links through to his website and the full story of his growth into business and how he was so happy following his passion and helping others get the best out of what they loved doing, while building a legitimate business online.
Thats how I got started in finding my own passions and building a business in helping other Retirees to stay relevant and valued in the years after full time work. I started watching the videos and it just made good sense to me.
They booked a call with me and I talked about how I could finally build a business which gave me a way to help others get what they want and to become Ageless Elders like me. I work the hours I choose and still have space to join in book club, sewing group, quiz night and all the other things I now have time to do, which previously had always stayed on the To-Do list. Now I can start a true Bucket List of some of the ways I can keep myself safe and financially flexible in my retirement. Honestly, living on the Means-tested pension and thinking I can only be useful in minor roles for a top-up of my income did not appeal to me! I wanted to have at least the lifestyle I dreamed of and even more now that I can see a way to achieve it without working myself to the grave. Its wonderful to be in an environment where everyone else has your back. Support instead of competition. Care for you and your outcomes makes all the difference in the world. And its fun to be a part of something ahead of the curve. Online business is where we are headed as a world community.
I am Excited about sharing the concepts which have given me a new confidence in the future. I am confident you will also find you can be of more value as an Elder than you were as a Workerbee. Now we have time on our side and know where to find the Education we can truly be anything we want to be. Live our dream life without the anxiety of wondering if we will have enough to live a long and strong life. We can focus on being of more value to our community and family by not being a burden. We can build our health with more time for that exercise program we always thought we would start 'next week' and we can look at longevity as a goal not as a hope.
If this is something which resonates with you and you want to learn how the world is taking a new turn with all the Baby Boomers going online to gain a voice and find their value in the Ageless Elders movement then contact me at artemis9@iinet.net.au. Come and meet me and find out how we can work together on getting you in front of coaches and entrepreneurs who support your ideas and dreams.
Lets take this season of Third Age on and become the leaders that Elders in the society of the past used to be.
The Season of the Ageless Elders!
Its what we're here for!
Talk soon!
Di.
Aging as gracefully as I can in as many fun ways as I want.