Koolau
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Very true. One of the joys of being FI late in my career was that I could say what many people were thinking but were hesitant to say because some of the powers that be didn't want to hear it... but they still needed to hear it. I still needed to be diplomatic about it but I could be more bold than those who more desperately needed the paycheck. Partners and clients loved it.
I've occasionally wondered if my Financial Independence at age 51 was one of the reasons I stayed to 58. After FI, I actually felt able to say "no" or "you are wrong" or "I don't have to do that." Short of gross dishonesty or true insubordination, Megacorp would not have suddenly sent me packing. I'm sure I would have been on my way out had we come to true loggerheads over a lengthy period of time. But the few times I stood up to mgmt., they actually backed down! It was a true blessing to be in that position. When mgmt. finally decided they did not need my assistance in my specialty, they offered me another assignment (offered is a technical term which means "You will do this.") That was the weekend I decided to ER. YMMV