why retirement is bad

my thoughts on retirement, 3 killer workouts, and leadership advice from Franky Slootman

why retirement is bad

Got your attention? Great.

Here’s why I think the concept of retirement is bad.

For starters, it feeds into the idea that happiness is something you defer until you hit a magic age—when you can finally live out your dreams and start ticking off that bucket list.

Because there’s nothing quite like fulfilling your lifelong goal of seeing the Pyramids of Giza… only to get your walker stuck in the sand.

Waiter? Yeah, I’ll take a shot of seasonal depression and the bill, please.

As you might be able to tell - I’m not a big fan of the Freedom 65 thing.

But it’s not because I’m cynical (I promise), it’s because we control our paths in life.

At least more than we think.

By embracing this belief, I’ve been able to:

  • Travel to nearly 30 countries before the age of 30

  • Land my ‘dream job’ not once, but three times (spoiler: dreams change)

Here’s the thing - it’s NOT because of any special talent. It all came down to a mindset I was lucky to adopt early on.

Curious how I did it? You can read my full thoughts on it here.

What do we think?

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idea of the week 💡 

  • problem: there is a gazallion streaming services but no modern TV guide.

  • idea: modern TV guide for streaming. Think up-to-date recommendations based on your location, platform, and preferences, complete with ratings like Rotten Tomatoes.

  • how it makes money: subscription perks like personalized watchlists, advanced filters, or affiliate commissions when you sign up for a streaming platform.

  • why it might fail: streaming services likely gate-keep their data and don’t want customers browsing their competitor’s exclusive content alongside theirs.

workouts of the week

at home workout

As many rounds as possible (AMRAP) in 20 minutes:

  • 5 burpees

  • 10 push-ups

  • 15 squats

  • 20 mountain climbers (each leg)

gym workout

The ‘Big 5’ complete 5 sets of:

  • Bench Press: 5 reps

  • Barbell Row: 8 reps

  • Front Squat: 6 reps

  • Overhead Press: 8 reps

  • Romanian Deadlift: 10 reps

Tips:

  • Rest 90-120 seconds between exercises —> should take about 45-50 minutes

  • To increase strength fast, do this bro-science method:

    • For leg lifts (deadlift, squat, etc.) add 5 lbs plates to EACH SIDE of the barbell next week for your sets

    • For upper body (shoulder press, bench press) add 2.5 lbs plates to EACH SIDE of the barbell next week for your sets

  • The above doesn’t sound like it would work, but it does. If you fail to increase the weight (too heavy), keep the weight the same as the week before but add an EXTRA set (6 total) before trying again next week.

outdoor workout

3 rounds for time:

  • 400m run

  • 20 dips on park bench

  • 30 box jumps on bench/ledge

  • 40 walking lunges

Tips:

  • Time each round

  • Try to keep a consistent pace

  • Scale box jumps to step-ups if needed

tweet of the week

I did NOT understand this principle when first building a start-up. Leadership is often comes down to cranking up the tempo of the company, even on days its the last thing you want to do.

my plugs

Looking to buy or sell your digital-first business? If I forgot to mention it, I am an M&A Advisor, specializing in the sale of digital-first businesses - schedule a FREE consultation call with me HERE.

Last plug (I promise) - want to follow along for more business ideas, health advice, and ways to build founder fitness? Make sure to subscribe to my FREE newsletter here.