Retirement. It’s something we’d all choose to do sooner rather than later, if given the financial stability. If we work hard while we’re young to build fruitful, thriving empires grown from our passions, hopefully we can retire while we’re still fabulous and functioning. That’s the plan, right?

“But wait. Hol’ up. I’ve barely gotten my career started. How can I think about retiring when I haven’t even got a penny for a 401k? ” I know the majority of you reading this are probably currently in college, recent graduates, or twentysomethings like myself with only a few short years of ‘career’ experience, wondering how a retirement discussion can even be relevant. I’m in the same boat — I’ve barely scratched the surface on my career. However, seeing two very special women so gracefully say goodbye to their long years of work life left me forward thinking about how I want to shape my own years of work life ahead of me…

The two retirement parties my office recently held for these women, one a few months back, and the other just last week, have been some of the most momentous days for me at work so far in my short 5 months of employment here.

The first retiring was a sales director who’d worked for our company for 20 years, and who has been responsible for a good chunk of its success. I enjoyed sitting just outside her office; hearing her booming but friendly voice as she handled business and, at times, held loving conversations with her dear mother. She always greeted me with a smile, and often with a compliment to my outfit, which felt like an honor coming from one of the most fabulously dressed women in the office. With a style that suggested a mix of upscale resort wear and summery, relaxed business casual, I definitely noted her professional California flair as #goals for an older me.

Then most recently — my boss’s retirement. An equally fashionable public relations extraordinaire with a spunky personality who had invested 18 years to our company, and has also been a key figure for its success. As a marketing major, I wasn’t expecting my first full-time job out of college to be in PR, but working in the field under this woman for even just 5 months has been an extremely beneficial learning experience.

We’d decorated our largest conference room with printed timeline narratives and tons of photos of her throughout the years, on our company’s cruises and in countries all over the map. Her bright smile and warm personality shined through in each one. Her journeys blended a lust-worthy blend of work and travel life into French vineyards, Italian cathedrals, and across many seas; she indeed enjoyed a rich life that translated so well into the effort she put towards her job.

On another wall we’d pinned up countless letters sent in by many of her colleagues — journalists she’s accommodated on cruises, travel agents, media and PR professionals, etc. A similar compilation was collected for the previous retirement celebration, except the heartfelt words were expressed in video form. The out-pour of acknowledgement and gratitude was tremendous.

Letter after letter, video after video, countless messages with varying language had all communicated parallel sentiments: ‘Your level of professionalism in this industry is unmatched,’ ‘You are a wonderful testament of excellence,’ ‘You’ve given my family memories that cannot be replicated,’ ‘This company would not be where it is today without you.’ Perhaps one of my favorites to read about my boss — ‘You are the queen of PR. You demonstrated how to get the job done elegantly, with a touch of personal friendship. I had an unforgettable Mediterranean trip with you and [your husband]… We then met again in Hong Kong two years later like long lost friends.’

It was really moving to observe the sincere feelings they’d impressed on those who’d worked with them for years. I mean, I teared up just watching them tear up. They’d touched so many individuals — Brazilian, Chinese, British, etc — around all corners of the world. Both of these ladies displayed such admirable charisma and charm without ever missing a beat. I can only hope to mature as gracefully.

Times have changed. Our generation isn’t known for sticking around at one company for longer than a few years. I can’t say how long I plan on working at this company, or for anyone else’s company on that note. I can’t say I’m going to shape my career the exact same way, or dedicate decades of my life to a particular organization. Because, well, I truly plan to work for myself in the future. What I can say, is that when it is time for me to kick back into retirement and hand over the reins, I want to leave a similar impact that my colleagues did.

I want to make a difference. I want to extend a level of affability that goes beyond basic professionalism. Oh but the professionalism. I want to be so good at what I do that people cheerfully recommend and enjoy working with me. I want to collaborate with diverse talents, to enjoy what I do, and work around others who enjoy what they do as well. Supremely, I want to help people lead more enriched lives. I want to travel (this is no secret), to make connections and build relationships with individuals as far as Asia and Australia. I want to contribute in some significant way to the fulfillment of dreams…

And it all starts with right now. Thinking towards the future helps me progress in the present. Luckily, I had a stellar example to learn from for these months, and I’m glad that my company has exemplary leaders all around. Even though I’m a “baby,” as my boss would say, I still think about the overall vision I want for my career — probably more than anything else. I hope I never lose sight of my goals, a strong sense of integrity, or the path that leads to the distant retirement with a bang.

#GoldenGoals.

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AFYm5BPC Kristen Noelle, co-creator of Peaches Beaches And Urbanistas, is a brand new West Coaster in LA by way of Maryland/DC. Considering herself a softly eccentric urbanista, she enjoys the best of both worlds that city life offers: the calm & the crazy; the easy-going and the always-buzzing; the soft and the eccentric. When not on the 9-5, catch her traveling, adventuring, writing, or just kickin’ back bein’ cool.

 

Image Source: Arlenis Sosa