Retirement with meaning

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

Arthur is 75 years old. He’s played golf every day since his retirement 15 years ago. One day, he arrives home looking downcast. “That’s it,” he tells his wife. “I’m giving up golf. My eyesight has become so bad that once I hit the ball, I couldn’t see where it went.”

His wife sympathizes and makes him a cup of tea. As they sit down, she says, “Why don’t you take my brother with you and give it one more try?”

“That’s no good,” sighs Arthur, “your brother is 85. He can’t help.” “He may be 85,” says the wife, “but his eyesight is perfect.” The next day, Arthur heads off to the golf course with his brother-in-law. He tees up, takes a mighty swing, and squints down the fairway. He turns to the brother-in-law and says, “Did you see the ball?”

“Of course I did!” The brother-in-law answers. “I have perfect eyesight.”

“Where did it go?” Arthur asks.

“I don’t remember.”

Ah, retirement. Golf every day and never have to work again. But not me. Well, first of all, I don’t play golf, and second, I still love what I am doing, and by the Grace of God, I am doing even more today than in my younger days.

I conduct hundreds of engagements each year, and people often ask if I lose my voice after training two full days straight. In fact, the opposite is true. While others may lose their voice after a few hours, I tend to lose mine only after two or three days without engagements. My vocal cords and muscles have adapted to this routine. Speaking and working are my norms.

This raises the question: “When can I retire?” However, a more meaningful question might be, “When am I willing to retire?”

Many people spend their careers looking forward to retirement, imagining freedom from deadlines and meetings. Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, achieved this dream early, retiring with more wealth than he could spend. However, he later returned to work, admitting that retirement was “the worst decision” he made. He felt less sharp, less engaged, and less alive. When he resumed building—especially in the dynamic field of AI—his energy returned.

Many assume that financial freedom ensures emotional fulfillment, but research shows otherwise. Entrepreneurs who left large companies and became financially independent often found themselves facing boredom, restlessness and emptiness. Retired professionals, after years of structured work, frequently felt unmoored. Early retirees also reported that the appeal of endless free time faded once the novelty wore off. Extra hours of freedom can feel burdensome without a sense of purpose.

Retirement is often viewed as a financial challenge: save enough, invest wisely, and the rest will follow. However, money addresses financial needs, not the need for meaning. For many, work provides structure, purpose and opportunities to contribute and grow. When this is lost, a void can form.

Retirement should be an intentional transition, not an escape. The aim is to move from obligatory work to meaningful engagement. As people live longer, the post-career years can be significant. Some fill this time with philanthropy, mentoring, teaching, or community involvement.

The specific activity matters less than having a sense of purpose. Romanticizing retirement as an escape can be misleading. Work can be a platform for contribution, not just an obligation.

The key question is not “How soon can I stop?” but “How can I continue meaningful work that fits my life stage?” Purpose not only fills time but also sustains the spirit.

Sergey Brin’s return to work is not unique to billionaires; it reflects a broader human tendency. Creative contribution keeps the mind sharp and the spirit engaged. When we stop pursuing meaningful work, our energy and curiosity can diminish.

Retirement planning should focus on meaning, not just finances. Plan for relevance: consider where you will contribute, who you will help, and what you will build. Those who approach retirement with this mindset often find it is not an end, but a new beginning. They shift from required work to chosen commitments. Purpose enhances performance. While the fantasy of retirement is freedom from responsibility, the reality of a fulfilling retirement is freedom with responsibility—to use time well, remain useful, stay curious, and continue contributing. The true goal is not early retirement, but purposeful living beyond a job title.

As for me, I will continue my work because I do not want to lose my voice. When asked about retirement, I often quote Zig Ziglar: I’m not gonna give up, shut up, or let up… as a matter of fact, I am just getting warmed up. I would only stop if I were taken up. The mission and purpose continue.

Catch Kongversations with Francis on YouTube and all major podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and more. Plus, listen to Inspiring Excellence wherever you stream.