What is your career plan? – Not a bad question for me at this stage of life by the daily writing prompt.

I never thought about asking myself that question (What is your career plan) after I retired. Not that I don’t keep very busy with things, it’s just that I never thought about my activities at this stage (retirement) as a career.

I’m not even sure I want another career after 50 years in newspapers. I hope my days of working for another boss are over.

I guess my retirement plan was sort of a career plan unintentionally. Though I doubt I’ll reach a professional status at any of them, but who knows unless you try.

I’m attempting to be a photographer, writer and artist in the later stages of my life. I have a lot of grand plans. Some of them are coming along. Some others I’ve been slow to start at, but a little progress is better than none.

Right now, I have a temporary career as an active grandfather to 3 young children. Of course, that time is short because we all know children grow up quickly and will be off with friends and their own careers before I blink my eyes.

Life Tip – When I was working, I thought this type of question was one of the most important ones I could ask as a manager or get as an employee from my manager. I used to ask it like this. What do you want to accomplish this coming year towards your career goal, and what would you like to be doing the following year. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years and where? I would also add that if there career goal had nothing to do with the job they were in that wasn’t an issue.

If I could get them talking, I’d let them go even further. It allowed me as a manager to know what opportunities they were looking for and if I could assist in that, I would.

I also always found those that asked me about my future interest, desires and goals were the best managers.