RETIREMENT IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE THAT CAN BE FILLED WITH JOY AND FREEDEM
For Geoffrey Bonosevich, retirement is an opportunity to relax, discover new things and enjoy his time through his hobbies. Thanks to his careful planning, he has been able to make the most of his retirement and enjoy the rewards that come with it. Today he tells us how he is making the most of this vital stage in his life.
You just retired a year ago, how would you describe this year? Did you prepare in any way for this stage of your life before retiring?
I formally retired on October 1st, 2021, after working 41 years in industry. The first 12 months of my retirement went surprisingly smoothly. I had no problems sleeping later, not having early morning and late-night calls and meetings and mostly, immediately adapted to the flexibilities of retirement.
In fall 2021 I founded my small e-mobility consulting business, bono eMobility, and used the last three months of that year and most 2022 to set things up, establish my new networks and work with others already in the business to learn as much as I could.
By nature, I am a planning type, so I was very well prepared to go into (semi-) retirement. I didn’t fall into the proverbial “hole” that some people do when they are working fulltime from one day to the next. I had planned to retire on this date years ago and had a jump start, both in terms of organizing my day and my mental approach to the new situation.
What role did your work at Vitesco Technologies play in your retirement?
I spent some 29 years in Vitesco Technologies and its previous companies in Regensburg and Munich and learned a tremendous amount during that time. I knew I wanted to stay active in a technical field and can apply my skills such as sales, business development, project management and training to my daily work in my firm. My customers also see that I bring this experience to the party, and it helps me establish a relationship with them. Also, the further development of my social skills through Vitesco Technologies always comes in handy when working with customers.
On a personal level, what has retirement meant to you?
In two words: freedom and flexibility. If a project seems to be too much of a challenge or the personalities involved are too complicated with a high risk of stress, I politely decline the project. That didn’t work in the “real world” before retirement. I have so many hobbies and activities I also do outside my consulting business, this freedom allows me to better control my work-life balance than before. And taking a nap in the afternoon after a long trip or busy morning is an added factor for people my age.
Can you tell us about your main projects at the moment?
In my business I spend most of my time consulting owners about installing EV charging infrastructure in multi-family housing and will also hold a course this fall. My volunteer work at the “Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim” allows me to go back to my aerospace roots and explain the technologies to our museum visitors of all ages and backgrounds. My continuous support of other volunteer organizations is still possible due to my freedom to work when I want and how much. In addition, I plan to be part of the Vitesco Technologies Alumni Program, participating in different activities.
Are there any tips you would like to give to people who are in similar situations?
How a person designs their life after fulltime employment and retirement is a very personal decision and very individualistic. What makes one person happy and fills them with satisfaction may be completely foreign to someone else. Even if you’re a planning type like me, I urgently suggest people preparing for retirement should assess what they truly want to do well in advance and remain flexible. There may suddenly be grandchildren in the picture, or a health issue may make some physical activity no longer feasible. No problem, just go to Plan B, or C. Keep in mind that there is no “right way” to retire. And that makes retirement so fulfilling for me. Maybe I’ll change gears and my focus may shift, but I have the gift of freedom and flexibility. It was hard earned, but I think we retirees also deserve it.
If you liked Geoffrey´s story, check out what he told us about his cross-move just shortly before his retirement
and don´t miss out on more of our employee stories.
