Mr Al Young Dot Com

Last weekend I got to attend a baby party for a good friend. At this party I was able to see and catch up with many old friends I have not seen it awhile. I don’t get to see them often these days, so we usually spend some time catching up. However, this time, they already know what I am up to even though we have not see each other in quite awhile. How? Because they read this blog. Its the power of blogging that we can keep tabs on what I am doing these days. However, based on some of the comments I received this weekend, it seems that many people have a misconception of what I do. I’ll try to set the record straight here.

1. “How does it feel to be retired?”: Several people have asked me this question. Well, I’m not retired as much as I would like to be. I am self employed. There is a difference…..a big difference. When you are retired, if you have planned carefully, you do not worry about money. As a self employed entrepreneur, you are constantly worrying about money. Money does not come in regularly like if you had a steady job, or a nest egg to rely on if you are retired. The self employed is always worrying about cash-flow and the health of the business. As a small business owner, I spend a lot of times on tasks I would not otherwise have to do if I was working for a large company. Such things as computer support, bookkeeping, and secretarial tasks fall to me since there is no one else to do it. When I worked in an office, I had a computer help desk to call if something went down, an accounting department, and a secretary. No more. These tasks take a good portion of the day in addition to other business functions.
2. “You must have a lot of free time these days”: Another comment I received a lot, and also a misconception. I don’t have a lot of free time because I am not retired. I do have more control of my time. As a salaried employee, I was basically chained to my job from 6 in the morning to 5 in the evening. I was either at work or commuting. There was not much flexibility in my schedule. Now, I don’t have to commute, and I have total control of my time. So, I am more free to do things such as take my kids to school and pick them up. I can take them to the park in the afternoon, and help them do homework. However, these benefits come with a price. I have to be plan my time wisely, and not waste time. In order to do things with my kids during the day, I have to plan my day well. Sometimes that means, waking up early or staying up late to work. Its 5:30 in the morning now, but I have already been on several business phone calls and responded to many emails. I choose to get up early to get a jump on the day, so I can free myself later in the day. At least as a self employed person, I have that option. I did not have such flexibility in my old job, and I like it much better this way.

Its been nearly a year since I have become self employed(not retired), and it has been a year of transition. Difficult at first, but it has gotten easier. I don’t regret making the change. It has been some trade offs, but the plus outweigh the cons in my opinion. Many of you may have get gotten the impression I am retired by reading my blog. On the blog, I share things I think might be of interest to my readers such as vacations, or good restaurants I have been to. That does not mean that’s all I do that with my time. I just don’t write about the mundane tasks of life such as paying the bills, and working for a living because that is not exciting or interesting to anyone. And the goal of any blog is to be entertaining.

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