THURSDAY THOUGHTS.. Inspired by someone I know..

Thursday thoughts . Inspired by someone I know...
   Another great day in so California. Today's talk is about Retirement issues, I have a lot of co workers , fellow shipmates that entering this phase and I want to share with them what to expect.
First off, Civilian life is as busy or as laid back as you want, for me, I'm very busy with Full time University Studies , Part -time Entrepreneurship's , kids activities as well as wife's honey do list, and whatever time, very little left over for you. Tips:
1) Time management - have a schedule and stick to it .. if you have study time - stick to those times , if you have family time - stick to it and everything gets figured in , like shopping , cleaning house ,laundry , car maintenance , bills analysis etc..
2) Make time to exercise- 30 - 1 hour  a day is what I try to aim for. because of the busy scheduled its more than just keeping the weight down, but its for stress relief and just interacting with people. Most military folks enjoyed daily interaction with people. When you retire , you need to find interaction, its not as easy as going to the base or rolling our of your rack to see or greet people.
3) Use your Gi bill , its a great way to replace lost income,,,, plus schools like National University and University of Phoenix provides schedules that fit into a working persons schedule .
4) Use linkedIn, and other forms of social networking to put out your skills and training and don't let your ego interfere with job search , let people know early and often you are retiring and start the network process and even jobs or career that don't fit you, utilizes them just for contacts,, everyone knows someone.. You never know where that job lead can come from.. Mine came from a class mate and relative... Just letting people know will produce leads like nothing else..
5) Take care of yourself. mentally, physically , emotionally, always talk about your issues with wifey ans share your frustrations and fears, it wont be easy , because they saw you as a rock , but if they understand what your going though will help you transition into civilian life ..
6) attend job fairs and workshops and take notes , and collect business cards and always have a resume ready to submit. Always ask questions and always been pleasant and smile often,
7) Dress to impress , if you don't have a interview suit - purchase one and be prepared to wear it like the uniform you wore during the military- impression, perception and image go hand in hand with everything you do.. Look and act your best at all times,,, Every person you meet could lead you to another career or opportunity..
8) Save money now and when you retire, make it a habit.. savings now will benefit you later in life , for life insurance , health care and retirement needs, In other words pay yourself first , before anything else.
9) stay positive regarding job search or new career , and always think out of the box, what you did on the military relates to something in civilian  use all the tools that military transition classes teach you and always look to improve yourself with free workshops on base , online or on campus if your attending school.
10) Last but not least. Be persistent and Positive in all you do and don't let set backs or frustrations , slow you down, remember its a process and like anything great in life.. It takes time to find out what you want to do, how you want to do it and when and where your gonna do it.. Research and study every day and always seek out others that have retired before you and always absorb what fits for you.. Your the master of your destiny and happiness , ask what do I like to do and how can I achieve that goal. Its not easy and human nature , likes to be contented and complacent about life.. But if you want to succeed and be a productive citizen in the civilian world, you will have to adjust and re invent yourself many times over. I cant tell you how many times I have adjusted , re arranged my resume to fit what the company is looking for.. remember you have to fit into their company culture , not the other way around.. You are starting anew. They don't care about good conduct awards or certificates earned in the military. The key is develop a strong resume and always develop skills on anything that can help you in your career choice. Military retirement is not the end , but a beginning of a new phase n life and if approached properly.. It can be a rebirth and a regeneration of your skills and talents.. Good luck and always be positive. Take Each day at a time and develop a plan each day so you don't miss out on what needs to be done.. Time is on your side now.. Use it wisely.. N more long watches or long deployments away from family.. Now is the time to enjoy family time , but also enjoy your new pursuits that will lead you to what makes you happy. Hey if we can stand dirt bags and cramped living spaces for over 20 years , we can enjoy the freedoms and space that many of the civilians have enjoyed .. Its a new beginning and I'm happy to share my techniques that have helped me use all the resources the military has benefited us with .. Have a great day!!
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