Retirement Rebels: Mike Drak

Welcome back to my ‘Retirement Rebel’ interview series. My guest answering the usual ten quick-fire questions is Mike Drak of Victory Lap Retirement, a group of retirement rebels just like me!

You can find Mike on Twitter, Facebook and read Mike and his fellow rebels’ excellent blog. I’m really looking forward to sharing Mike’s answers with you. In the meantime, if you’re a rebel like Mike and his Victory Lap collaborators, and you’d like to be part of this series yourself, email me at [email protected]. 

1 Do you consider yourself retired – and if not, why not?

No, not at all. I’ve created a less stressful lifestyle for myself where the line between work and play is blurry. My work is also my play but I’m trying to keep it down to 20hrs per week max so I have time for other things that I enjoy like fishing, traveling, and training for Ironman.

2 How do your thoughts on retirement differ from most people – in other words, what makes you a retirement rebel?

I like to play way outside my comfort zone. I started my own business, wrote two books, learned public speaking, training for an ironman and there are many more adventures planned for the future like going to Australia, getting into a shark cage and taking a picture of a great white up close.

In this period of life I’m speeding up not slowing down. Let’s just say there are a lot of unfinished business things that I want to do and experience, things that I couldn’t do when I was working full time.

3 Do you have a typical day? What does it look like?

I get up and work on my blog, do a little retirement coaching, work out for 2hrs minimum. Go for a walk with my wife and maybe do a presentation in the evening.

4 What’s been your proudest moment since you turned 50?

Getting over the fear of public speaking. It held me back in my banking job for years and would have been one of my biggest regrets if I didn’t confront it.

5 Do you have a favourite quote that inspires you?

One from Zig Ziglar “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

6 What’s your favourite social media channel, and what was the last thing you posted on it?

I’m on LinkedIn a lot and my last post that did well was ‘How To Survive In A Mad Max World”.

7 If you could tell your 18 year old self one thing, what would it be?

Floss daily, wear sunscreen, and don’t eat too much or drink too much.

8 When did you last belly-laugh, and what was it about?

When I finally finished my new book and realized it only took me six years to write it. Guess you could call me more plodder than writer.

9 Do you have any regrets?

Allowing myself to get out of shape and putting on 52lbs while writing my last book.

10 What are your aspirations for retirement – how would you like to see the way the world thinks about life over 50 change?

I believe traditional full stop retirement is rapidly becoming a thing of the past and is a pipe dream for most people. There is nothing wrong with working later in life in fact it’s healthy for you provided that you are doing work that you enjoy to do.