Author Topic: Tips for finishing strong?  (Read 3938 times)

Moustachienne

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 419
Tips for finishing strong?
« on: October 23, 2015, 07:56:19 AM »
Seems the post-FIRE folks are a mix of those who "coasted" or "finished strong" in their last 6-12 months before FIRE.  I've got 16 months and need/want to finish strong but am finding it tough physically and mentally.  With vacation accrual I could bump the date a bit earlier but not much.  Strong finishers - how did you handle the home stretch?  What worked for you?  What would you have done differently in retrospect?

Edited:  I manage people and visible projects so an "in cubicle sabbatical" is not really an option.  :)
« Last Edit: October 23, 2015, 11:01:49 AM by Moustachienne »

regulator

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 469
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2015, 09:47:44 AM »
By the time you get to the final lap, I think you are stretched and more than ready to split in most cases.  That being the case, figure out what is REALLY important and what is not.  Useless meetings that should have been emails?  Stop incurring the unnecessary brain damage of caring, if you cannot bail on them altogether.  Nonsense assignments that nobody cares about or even bothers to check that you did?  Skip.  OTOH, mission critical stuff that really matters, has a lasting impact, and/or really helps your coworkers after you leave is very much what you should be focused on.

Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8397
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2015, 10:08:09 AM »
Whats the  worse that can happen for not going to the PC meetings etc?.. They fire you?..:)

You can enjoy being a bit of a square peg in a round hole.

That's what I did.

Financial.Velociraptor

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2148
  • Age: 51
  • Location: Houston TX
  • Devour your prey raptors!
    • Living Universe Foundation
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2015, 03:24:07 PM »
I coasted the last six months but that was due to management error in re-assigning me to a role that had no real work and letting requests for a project fall on deaf ears.

But the last 3 years or so were stronger for me because I was close.  As an accountant in an SEC reporting role, I faced some internal pressure to maybe bend the rules a little.  When you become fearless of career consequences, you can stand firm against any demand.  I produced work that was audit proof those years.  I also became more vocal.  Some managers found this problematic (fuck 'em and feed 'em fish heads...) but most appreciated candor.  Boss man is being sort of stupid?  I tell and carefully explain why.  Don't get me wrong, I still completed their stupid requests but I said my piece so it was clear I was working under protest.  Usually, boss man was well aware the task was stupid...they had a bigger boss man who was just as stupid and they weren't in a position to wave the finger.  In short, I feel I was freed to better align my work with the company core values.  I was also happier and thus generally more productive.

Retired To Win

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1493
  • Age: 76
  • Location: Virginia
  • making the most of my time and my money
    • Retired To Win
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2015, 06:02:57 PM »
Seems the post-FIRE folks are a mix of those who "coasted" or "finished strong" in their last 6-12 months before FIRE.  I've got 16 months and need/want to finish strong but am finding it tough physically and mentally.  With vacation accrual I could bump the date a bit earlier but not much.  Strong finishers - how did you handle the home stretch?  What worked for you?  What would you have done differently in retrospect?

Edited:  I manage people and visible projects so an "in cubicle sabbatical" is not really an option.  :)

I neither coasted nor (intentionally) finished strong.  I woke up one day to the realization that (1) I had lost my work motivation and (2) I had enough capital to retire, provided I reined in the part of my spending that was pointless, thoughtless and unnecessary.  Thirty days later, I was gone.

regulator

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 469
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2015, 06:09:16 PM »
I guess I would also say that your perspective changes after you bail.  Stuff that was extremely important while you were shackled to the cube will seem silly or pointless in hindsight.  The things I worked extra hard on on the way out were the ones that either were important to me personally, or were things that made a real difference to friends who would still have to be slaving away.  All the rest ofi t is just so much marsh gas in hindsight.

soccerluvof4

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7161
  • Location: Artic Midwest
  • Retired at 50
    • My Journal
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2015, 08:30:21 AM »
I was/am more like Retired to Win on this. I woke up one day after years of just hating a business I started and use to love and said enough is enough the money is just not worth it. Went in and said to my employees this is it...90 days doors closed how can I help you. make the transition to move on as well.  That simply was the best decision I ever made as I never realized how miserable I was till I closed the doors. Never think about it...the money sure but that will fade away as well.

G-dog

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 19094
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2015, 10:11:04 AM »
I think it is very much like the typical productivity tips - prioritize and focus on the tasks needed for the project.

My own rule of thumb is to also not leave messes for others - which means if I realize I can't finish a project I either need to not start, or get it to a good transfer state before I leave.  Also, clean out your files, desk, computer, etc. transfer or archive needed records, destroy the rest (following your company's document retention policies). 

Cleaning out my stuff was my favorite part - very cathartic. It also meant that others did not have to go through all of this stuff and figure out what it was and what to do with it. It seems trivial, but cleaning up after others is a huge PITA and time suck!

Good luck!

MsRichLife

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 539
  • Age: 46
    • Living My Rich Life
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2015, 09:25:36 PM »
The things I worked extra hard on on the way out were the ones that either were important to me personally, or were things that made a real difference to friends who would still have to be slaving away.

Thanks for this perspective.

For me, the hardest part about FIREing is leaving behind colleagues who I consider to be my friends. I feel like I'm bailing on them. If I can focus the next 8 months on making the workplace as good as I can for them, I think it's going to be much easier to remain motivated.

Barrtim

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 13
Re: Tips for finishing strong?
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2015, 04:54:53 AM »
Seems the post-FIRE folks are a mix of those who "coasted" or "finished strong" in their last 6-12 months before FIRE.  I've got 16 months and need/want to finish strong but am finding it tough physically and mentally.  With vacation accrual I could bump the date a bit earlier but not much.  Strong finishers - how did you handle the home stretch?  What worked for you?  What would you have done differently in retrospect?

Edited:  I manage people and visible projects so an "in cubicle sabbatical" is not really an option.  :)

I tried to ruthlessly compartmentalize by never thinking about the FIRE date and plans while I was at work. I did however rapidly develop an inability to tolerate hypocrisy and stupidity at work...to say nothing of the firm's  dress code (I was pretty much in jeans and t-shirt by the end). This approach was partially successful but I believe my bosses and colleagues appreciated that I could still focus on the key performance tasks...even if I gave up going to boring meetings.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!