crtreedude 

I figure you all were as good a group to whine to as any. I have a problem. Our company has grown so much over the last year or so (47 people at last payroll) that it is now time to quasi retire the president so that those under him can do their job.

That would be me. It used to be my job to tell the entrepreneur he need to enjoy the fruits of his labor and stop working all the time. Now I am having to take my own advice.

This really hit since we just hired a full-time forestry engineer to do what I used to do in the plantations in quality control. My son is learning the software development (thankfully I can do something in helping teach him!) and all other positions are filled, we have accountant, office manager, and heads of departments.

Sigh, I am now a consultant in my own company.

So, having told more than a few people it is time to start relaxing, any clues how to do it?!

Having worked 70+ hours for since I was 18 years old, I am going through withdrawl I fear.

Floyd

Since you are writing to a bicycle forum the easy answer is...get out and ride. My other answer is learn to forget about work. If you have been a "workaholic", that might not be easy. That is where the biking can help. Go out and get with it.

Jet Travis

This is one area in which I'm an expert (see my sig--courtesy of Ferris Bueller's Day Off). As with all things, practice makes perfect.

Seriously--I recommend finding some substitute passions: Volunteering; art/photography; travel; teaching your wife how to stack the cans of soup in the cupboard; lavishly hosting your BikeForum friends.

crtreedude 

I have been working toward this day. I do ride, and I am cranking it up now. I love riding at night and I have a light for riding the dirt roads - or very early in the morning. We have lots of horses (14 at last count), 500 acres of tropical paradise, a full fledge furniture factory, a pond stocked with guapote and pinto.

I think I can manage to find something to do, that is not a problem. The problem is not feeling I should be working. Perhaps Tom Stormcrow will come down and put me on the coach... and rearrange 30 years and more of self brainwashing.

Terrierman

Travel. It's a great big wonderful world out there. Go and see it.

crtreedude 

And I don't mind hosting some visitors if anyone is in country. Joe and Heather are going to be neighbors (as in Joe Gardner, ex-owner of BF), I can go over there and bother them some times...

crtreedude 

Not yet, but it is in the plans. I really want to cycle Scotland. We have a tandem and I would love to take it traveling with us. But, I might get a recumbent tandem.

Since I spent 25 years plus developing, I might do some work in Open Source. Give back some if you know what I mean.

PaulH

How long has it been since you last started a company? Why not start a new one?

Paul

PirateJim

Obviously, given the venue, spending more time on your bike is recommended. Then cast around a bit for another game of some sort that you enjoy. The fishing is reported to be fantastic in Costa Rica. Not sure about the options for golf, tennis, etc. Sailing perhaps? It all depends on personality and what you like, but you might give serious thought to trying out some computer games, they can be fun and quite adictive. If you have a LOT of time on your hands I would recommend Everquest, you can fiddle with that 24/7 for five years and still have stuff that needs doing.

If not of that works you may have to break down and start up a new "retirement" business.

Digital Gee

You could always move to Costa Rica. Oh wait... never mind.

gcottay

Disengage. Get out of the country for thirty/sixty/ninety days providing your staff with a phone number to be used only in case of emergency. Let them know you will not be answering the phone, will check for messages only every day or two, and will provide unpleasant sanctions for any non-emergency messages.

Once you have disengaged, find some good work.

Beverly

A bike touring company

Retro Grouch 

You sound like a perfect candidate for opening a bike shop.

It'll keep you working 70 hours per week and it won't put you into a higher income bracket.

Artkansas 

I'd say that it's time to build a Velodrome, start training some bicyclists and start planning a trip to London in 2012 as the official Costa Rican bicycling team.

London 2012 Olympics - bicycling events

That ought to keep you busy.

crtreedude 

Sounds like a few good ideas. I have no desire to start a major project, but there are some others that are interesting.

I used to fly fish a little in the states, I wouldn't mind taking that up and tying my own streamers and such for guapote in the pond. Might be fun. Costa Rica is one of the top places in the world for ecotourism - I might start touring with the bike a few days at a time.

I think the key is disengage and run away.

stapfam

Within my own little division of my company- I have been downsizing my job for about 5 years now. Finished up with the same salary but no responsiblity. Great.

It has left me more time at home but I have another hobby besides Bike riding- and that is gardening. Keep showing pics of my 1/4 acre that is too small- but Take up some other interest that will allow you time away from thinking about work. As soon as you can do that (The thinking about work bit) Then you will be on the road to a normal life with holidays abroad- planning trips up Ventoux and seeing if the trip to California can co-incide with an organised metric.

crtreedude 

I have a pretty sizable garden, let's say a half an acre, with a person to help care for it, and about about a 2 acre lawn, with same person to care for it.

I also have a very nice aquaponics system that I am having lots of fun with, I just need to spend more time with it.

The key is I just need to stop focusing on work so much, and spend more time focusing on other stuff.

stapfam

[QUOTE=crtreedude;6688301]I have a pretty sizable garden, let's say a half an acre, with a person to help care for it, and about about a 2 acre lawn, with same person to care for it.

I also have a very nice aquaponics system that I am having lots of fun with, I just need to spend more time with it.

The key is I just need to stop focusing on work so much, and spend more time focusing on other stuff.[/QUOTE]

You know the answer then--But it took me at least 3 years to get it done.

tsl

These generally go hand-in-glove. Start one and the other is sure to follow.

swan652

As the doctor told the young lad that swallowed the peach pit, "This too shall pass".

crtreedude 

In other words, merely a transition time. Cool, I can live with that.

I am cranking up the miles on the bike, it seems to help.

Timtruro

retirement is a major life change, and like other changes, it will take time (anywhere from 6 months to two years or so, to get used to it). It is a blow to the ego after having people listen to your input and value your opinions. Take it slow and you will adjust. I am facing retirement at the end of this year, my choice, on my own terms etc, but still have moments of fear and trepidation, but I am confident that in the end I will be asking "what took me so long?"

crtreedude 

I will still be a business owner indefinitely and having 40+ people at your beck and call means I won't ever feel neglected.

And, most of them are what you would consider able-bodied, i.e. their biggest claim to fame is they are strong and work hard. We are about to close our temporary office / home and move up to the finca where all is ready. It is hard to believe how nice it is to know I won't do anything more than set up the computer systems when they arrive.

Life is so very, very good. Not only do we have a lot of workers, we have a large truck too that we use for moving seedlings and wood. About the size of a 20 foot container.

Hmmm, there is a local kid around I use for cleaning computers, I bet he would even pack and unpack the computers for me...

I think I can get into this working about being lazy...

Beverly

Thank goodness I won't have anyone around to screw up my soup stacking system when I retire later this year

crtreedude 

There is no danger to me showing anyone how to organize anything other than businesses and software.