Retire at age 26? Why not?

How to Redesign Your Career

by Ken Siegal, Experience, Inc.

My father and my uncles all retired after 30 or more years toiling at the same job. But don't be surprised if I tell you that's not in your future, and you might not want it to be.

You can make a different kind of 30-year career dream come true. Look at Bruce Tulgan of Rainmaker Thinking, Inc. for inspiration.

"I was a lawyer for 428 days, then, at age 26, I retired," Tulgan says. "After going through 20 years of school and then landing a job at a big law firm in New York, I realized that my career path was obsolete.

"As you think about making the transition from college to the world of work, ask yourself what kind of career you've been anticipating. Are you prepared for the workplace of the future? Or have you been imagining a career in the workplace of the past?"

A recent survey showed that between ages 19 and 42, the average worker -- just like you -- was employed at more than 10 jobs. So much for a 30-year job.

If working for one company won't happen for you, why not work outside the company? Here's how to take charge and re-fashion that career of yours.

* Think about "moving" your workplace. Try to work from places other than the office some of the time -- either on an occasional or regular basis. Thanks to remote access, you'll see empty cubicles everywhere, as more people at more companies become accustomed to working outside the office. (If they weren't contributing to the bottom line, that wouldn't be allowed -- we all know that.)

* Make remote access work for you, and get used to making the hours you work fit you. Learn to work at night or early in the morning, then schedule appointments or meetings to fit your new vision.

* Expand the scope of what you do at your current job. Volunteer for EVERYTHING. You'll interact with more people, gain respect and self-confidence, and develop new skills and project expertise. Consider this as training for your new, personalized career.

* Be creative. First, figure out the best way to get your job done. Then figure out how to talk your boss into going along with it. This ability will become invaluable when you're on your own, dealing with clients.

* Customize your own career path -- take it slow where needed, but follow a long-term plan. Remember, don't try to live in the workplace of the past -- you're shaping a 30-year job. Supplement what and who you know with solid research.

* When you're ready to go out on your own, don't panic as you pull it all together. You're taking with you the skills and confidence you've developed and the contacts you've made (and it's not uncommon for your former company to become one of your best clients).

Tory Johnson of Women for Hire tells the story about what triggered her decision as a young professional to branch out on her own. "First, instead of working for the man, I was now working for the man's son and helping him fulfill his dream, not mine. And second, I realized that if he could do it, I could too."

And so can you.

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