target2019
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I've actually had a customer now ask twice, "So, when ya gonna retire?" Both times this has been said in front of others. The latest question came in the middle of a meeting with two of my managers, and the customer's top manager. As mentioned elsewhere, I've gone part-time (3 days), with plenty of notice. On both sides of this challenge, customer and services company, there is a certain amount of ineptitude, inexperience, and processes, which could literally sink a ship.
Not intending to make a negative topic. I have great answers for this question, when it comes. Somewhere around this E-R forum I first learned of the question, and how important it is. There is definitely a wrong answer, and of course I use an answer that does not destroy what leverage I have built over the years.
In the room, there are six people. Our company is +1 in numbers. LOL. Two of us are in the room as we are the bodies in a body shop. No getting around that, the customer rents our human capital. The first realization of that fact (many years ago for me) can make one crazy. The best approach IMO is to declare yourself a mercenary, and get the best offer, for as long as you can. Unless you're in the last job, in the services marketplace you are guaranteed that it will end. For some workers, it may last a very long time. For example, in the paper making industry I met individuals who had been temps for over 15 years. But these arrangements are temporary, meaning short, intermediate or long term.
Many years ago a union worker mentioned to me, "Go with flow." It was great advice. Of course it helps to be aware of what leverage you have, and not over-use it.
To wrap it up, I answered that I have no plan to retire, but it is obviously a good thing for customer and company to work together to add one person, and hopefully another, once the work is better defined. I mentioned that I evaluate all at the end of each year, and finish with, "I enjoy this job tremendously, and know it works for customer and company."
If not for the tight job market, and our serpentine search/hiring process, I'm sure these conversations and meetings would have a different tone. Later, I pointed out to our tight-control upper manager, that if this same process were used on me a few years back, I would not be in-place for over three years. That is a great amount of money for the company, and a bunch for me too.
Another interesting point to these meetings, is how often the customer mentioned they want me involved with the new hire. The reason for this is that I've become very knowledgeable about the subject matter. If I were a typical worker, I would not have accumulated the same leverage. For FIRE dreamers, that is a key bullet. Know your customer and their product. This may not have rewards in your current job, but in the next situation it will pay off in spades.
Not intending to make a negative topic. I have great answers for this question, when it comes. Somewhere around this E-R forum I first learned of the question, and how important it is. There is definitely a wrong answer, and of course I use an answer that does not destroy what leverage I have built over the years.
In the room, there are six people. Our company is +1 in numbers. LOL. Two of us are in the room as we are the bodies in a body shop. No getting around that, the customer rents our human capital. The first realization of that fact (many years ago for me) can make one crazy. The best approach IMO is to declare yourself a mercenary, and get the best offer, for as long as you can. Unless you're in the last job, in the services marketplace you are guaranteed that it will end. For some workers, it may last a very long time. For example, in the paper making industry I met individuals who had been temps for over 15 years. But these arrangements are temporary, meaning short, intermediate or long term.
Many years ago a union worker mentioned to me, "Go with flow." It was great advice. Of course it helps to be aware of what leverage you have, and not over-use it.
To wrap it up, I answered that I have no plan to retire, but it is obviously a good thing for customer and company to work together to add one person, and hopefully another, once the work is better defined. I mentioned that I evaluate all at the end of each year, and finish with, "I enjoy this job tremendously, and know it works for customer and company."
If not for the tight job market, and our serpentine search/hiring process, I'm sure these conversations and meetings would have a different tone. Later, I pointed out to our tight-control upper manager, that if this same process were used on me a few years back, I would not be in-place for over three years. That is a great amount of money for the company, and a bunch for me too.
Another interesting point to these meetings, is how often the customer mentioned they want me involved with the new hire. The reason for this is that I've become very knowledgeable about the subject matter. If I were a typical worker, I would not have accumulated the same leverage. For FIRE dreamers, that is a key bullet. Know your customer and their product. This may not have rewards in your current job, but in the next situation it will pay off in spades.
