Too Lazy to Fail (1637 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Miscellaneous
Rating: 1.66 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by jackhole.at.hotmail.com (View user info) at 2003-12-02 10:57:24 EST
I guy I used to work with just retired from General Electric after twenty years. Twenty years to the day. He just walked right into the Office of the Director ten minutes after his office anniversary cake-and-ice cream party and handed in his letter of resignation. It goes almost without saying that the Director was quite shocked. As were we all.
The fellow lived right down the street from me, and I spoke with him at length a few days after his resignation. I asked him if he had any plans to work part time to supplement his income (he was just a middle manager, with a not-too-impressive 401k added to his company pension). He told me no, he's going to travel the world with his wife (who doesn't work) while his kids are away at college (the son goes to Duke, daughters to Vanderbilt and Case Western).
I said that that sounded like some hefty tuition bills to take care of for four years, on top of house payments and things like that. How was he going to cover all his expenses without the extra income? It turns out that this was his second retirement and second pension. He enlisted in the Navy at 17, put in his twenty years, and retired as a Commander at 37 (Navy paid for his college while he was in). He was in Naval Intelligence, so he never had to get his hands dirty, didn't have to move around much, and only had to do 3 sea tours in 20 years. That's cake duty.
He got hired by GE straight out of the Navy, put in his 20 there, and retired at 57. I suppose he could have busted his ass and made director, maybe VP, or even President. But he said he was happy having little to no responsibility in the company, which allowed him to make a decent salary and have time for his family. He was the most content person I ever met.
I was jealous. This guy was my hero!
Here was a guy who had all his priorities in order. He had a plan from the very beginning to not work himself to death, and be able to enjoy family and friends and life in general. I suppose there has always been that small group of people out there who never doubt that their lives are anything but good, but I had never met one of them before. I guess that's the whole point of this post; to show that there are some people you can look up to, not because of the way they look, the money they have, or the power or intelligence they possess, but because they can be happy with what they have. I think being content is the goal in life most worth striving for.
User Reviews
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2008-05-16 15:25:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-08-09 11:59:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Natophelia (user info) at 2004-01-23 11:07:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
paco, you're right, but where would that leave the people who like to bitch?? ;)
This was awsome. I just had someone say to me, "I see you have great personal goals, but what about career and education?" PPppfffffffffffttt...I've already done what I set out to do, career-wise, and damn near burned myself out trying to make perfect grades while getting my degree. No hurry to go back to that. It's time to be HAPPY for a while! What else is left besides personal goals??? I think I'll show this to him as an answer.
Submitted by paco (user info) at 2003-12-18 10:48:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Who gives a fuck about the name of the company? That's not the point of the post.
Submitted by jimbo (user info) at 2003-12-04 13:52:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
RB,
You caught me. He didn't really work at GE, I just used that company name to bolster my story. If I said Cordis (the real company) the post wouldn't have had the same impact.
Submitted by paco (user info) at 2003-12-03 11:03:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I just noticed the name of the photo. +2 just for that.
Submitted by potatomanjack (user info) at 2003-12-02 11:14:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
See, that's the thing. I could probably get away without having to work much in life. Eventually, I have a lot of money coming my way, and I mean A LOT. The thing is, I couldn't do it. I'm probably going to work my ass off until I'm in my mid fifties and retire early with a large amount of money put away that I earned for myself, and a nice pension. I don't understand why I I feel the need to do all this, because for the most part I'm quite the laid back and lazy individual. I don't know where I'm going with this, but it's kinda strange really.
That dude was one smart customer though. Good for him.
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2003-12-02 11:04:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
There something your forgetting dumbass. Stock.
My dad worked for NBC (which is owned by GE) for over 30 years. Back in the day GE use to hand out stock at the end of year as a bonus. Pops pulled in over a mill just sitting on those stocks.
Sometimes luck has alittle do with it.
Submitted by Aryan (user info) at 2003-12-02 11:01:01 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Umm, that's great. Why are you telling me?
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2003-12-02 11:00:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
""""Here was a guy who had all his priorities in order. He had a plan from the very beginning to not work himself to death, and be able to enjoy family and friends and life in general. I suppose there has always been that small group of people out there who never doubt that their lives are anything but good, but I had never met one of them before. I guess that's the whole point of this post; to show that there are some people you can look up to, not because of the way they look, the money they have, or the power or intelligence they possess, but because they can be happy with what they have. I think being content is the goal in life most worth striving for. """"
Precisely.
If I nodded in agreement anymore my head would fall off.
Submitted by Petercide (user info) at 2003-12-02 10:59:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Id rather be happy than rich. I jacked ina a fairly promising career to go into doing my dream job. It went slightly tits up, hence Im stuck in an office all day. But life is too short to bust a gut only to find that you've missed out on all the really good things. imo of course.