Practical Advice for Employees: Building a Fulfilling Career and Planning for Retirement

1. Begin building your own home earlier, whether it's in a rural or urban area. Constructing a house at the age of 50 should not be considered an achievement. Avoid becoming too reliant on government-provided housing. This level of comfort can be dangerous. Allow your entire family to enjoy quality time in your own home.
2. Make it a priority to spend time at home. Don't be glued to your work all year round. Remember that you are not the sole pillar of your department. If something were to happen to you, you would be immediately replaced, and operations would continue. Put your family first.
3. Instead of chasing promotions, focus on mastering your skills and becoming excellent at what you do. If opportunities for advancement come along, that's great. But if they don't, remain positive and continue your personal development.
4. Avoid participating in office or work gossip. Stay away from activities that could tarnish your name or reputation. Refrain from joining negative conversations that involve criticizing your bosses or colleagues. Distance yourself from gatherings with a negative agenda.
5. Don't engage in competition with your bosses. You'll only end up getting burned. Avoid competing with your colleagues as well, as it can lead to unnecessary stress and conflicts.
6. Ensure you have a side business. Relying solely on your salary will not sustain your long-term financial needs.
7. Save some money by setting up automatic deductions from your payslip.
8. If you borrow a loan, do so to invest in a business or improve your situation, rather than spending it on luxury items. Purchase luxury items using the profits generated from your investments.
9. Keep your personal life, marriage, and family separate from your work. This is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
10. Be loyal to yourself and believe in your work. Spending too much time around your boss may alienate you from your colleagues, and when your boss eventually leaves, you could be left behind.
11. Plan for early retirement. The best time to start planning for your exit is when you receive your employment letter. The second-best time is today. Aim to retire between the ages of 40 and 50.
12. Join work welfare programs and be an active member. These programs can provide valuable support in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
13. Utilize your leave days to work on developing your future home or personal projects. How you spend your leave days reflects how you will live after retirement. Instead of spending all your time watching TV series, use the opportunity to work towards your goals.
14. Start a project while still employed. Allow the project to run alongside your regular work, and if it doesn't succeed, start another one until you find a viable venture. Once your project is running successfully, retire to manage your business. Many retirees struggle because they retire to start a project rather than retiring to run an already established one.
15. Remember that pension money is intended for your upkeep and maintaining good health, not for starting new projects, buying property, or covering school fees. Use your pension funds wisely to take care of yourself.
16. When you retire, strive to be a role model for your colleagues by living a fulfilling life. Don't become a case study of a miserable retirement. Retire while you are still young and energetic, so you can enjoy simple pleasures, spend quality time with your family, and pursue your passions.
17. Don't retire simply because you feel finished or have become a burden to the company. Retire early while you still have energy, so you can wake up to a cup of coffee, enjoy the freedom to travel, receive income from your business, and explore places you've always wanted to visit. Many who retire late end up spending 95% of their time at work, leaving little time for their families. They often struggle to adjust to retirement and may even seek another job until their passing. Plan for a fulfilling retirement.
18. Choose to retire at your own house rather than in government accommodation. This way, you can easily reintegrate into the community where you were raised. It can be challenging to adjust to a new location after spending many years in company or government housing.
19. Don't let your employment benefits make you forget about your retirement. While employment benefits provide temporary comfort, they won't sustain you in the long run. Remember that no one will consider you a boss once you retire, unless you have a viable business to support yourself.
20. Embrace the idea of retirement and don't resist it. One way or another, retirement will come to you, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Approach this phase of life with a positive mindset.

I hope these suggestions help you view life more positively.

*Original by Dolphas Don, published on Facebook, May 21, 2023

*Updated with ChatGPT suggestions.