The Time has Come.
24 January 2017 | Herrington Harbour South
Sunny/Cold
The subject of "full retirement" has been on our minds of late (well - actually for nearly a year now). The Admiral and I talk about it almost nightly. We've been patiently circling...watching conditions. She runs her own business - I have an employer. She has complete control of her work environment (and does very well - I might add). I have complete control too (in a different way)...we are blessed with our mutual incomes and we are invested well; have a nice nest-egg; I have a full (very nice) government pension and with the Admiral's blessing - I can quit anytime! To me - that is complete control! We really are lucky - but we worked hard for where we are now...no debt, income producing properties, nice pension, good nest-egg and a nice boat!
I made it very clear to the company leadership that I would give them 3 very focused years and then make some life changes (at which time they could decide if they wished to continue my employ). Each year, I reminded my boss of that future (at performance counseling). Each time I communicated potential futures - he acknowledged my communication and quickly returned to what was overwhelming him at the moment ... and soon forgot. That future is now HERE!
I am the "design architect" of the potentially large project that my company is embarking upon (their primary revenue effort). I prepared a letter of intent to my boss for submission on 1 MAR 2017 announcing our plans to make a "life change" (begin full-time cruising) that has potential to affect my company's definition of employment. I'd like to think that they will bend over backward to keep me as a remote employee (consulting). However - I am not naive enough to bet on the same - business and the almighty the bottom-line have a funny way of re-defining work relationships.
SO - recently, my supervisor approached me and asked about my summer plans (assuming he had some some vague memory of what I had communicated many times previously). I provided him the letter. The cat is now out of the bag! ... he said "let's talk some more this week - I'm late for a meeting." I could see in his face the mental math he was doing:
1. How long will my high-value employee be directly accessible?
2. How can I leverage what he has in his head until then?
3. What's it gonna cost me to stay connected to this employee - gallivanting around the Caribbean?
4. Can the company find a replacement for this guy?
5. What is the value of the ideas in this guy's head versus what we will pay him (reduced salary) if we keep him on as a remote consultant?
The bottom line is - What ever decision my supervisor makes (let me go or re-negotiate my employ) - it has to be beneficial to the company! Well - only half-right...it has to be mutually beneficial to both (Company and Employee).
Here are the facts:
1. We will go "full-time" cruising on 1 APR 2017.
2. I can do the same thing (for the company) as a remote employee.
3. We like the money - but don't depend upon it (they pay me generously - with nice yearly bonuses).
Stay tuned as the story develops.