Retirement for modern people is not stopping work, but living in the present—manage life as an investment portfolio.
Raymond’s explanation
Having worked independently for nearly ten years, Raymond is often asked, “When are you planning to retire?”
This made him realize that words such as “work, finish work, overtime, and retirement” are all products of the industrial age. In a factory, people have to be present when the machines are running and leave when they stop; that is where the concept of “shifts” came from. But when work becomes intellectual, this logic no longer applies. If someone has a good idea in the shower, is that overtime? If someone reads a book on the weekend to improve a skill, is that work or rest?
Portfolio Work is a concept proposed by management thinker Charles Handy: allocate time among four kinds of “work” as if managing an investment portfolio:
- Paid work: activities that earn money
- Household work: caring for family and cultivating relationships
- Gift work: contributing to society and helping others
- Study work: personal growth and exploring new things
Traditional thinking frames “work vs. life” as opposites (Work-Life Balance), but Portfolio Work emphasizes integration (Work-Life Integration)—the four kinds of work nourish one another rather than competing for time.
Theme days are a practical way to implement Portfolio Work: give each day a theme so different aspects of work each get focused time. For example, Monday could be “creation day,” Wednesday “meeting day,” and Friday “review day.” This way, someone does not have to switch between multiple tasks every day, but can fully engage in one theme at a time.
When work and life are no longer opposites, the definition of “retirement” changes too: it is not stopping work, but already living in the present, with meaning in each day.
Origin
Charles Handy introduced the concept of Portfolio Work. Raymond interpreted and applied it through his own ten years of independent work.
Where it has been discussed
Course scripts
- 53 | How to Projectize Life: Portfolio Work and Theme Days — full explanation of the four types of work, with an action exercise
Articles
- 2023-09-11_Portfolio Work Is Not About Seeking Work-Life Balance but Integration
Related concept pages
- Time Management — Portfolio Work as a time-allocation strategy