“Retirement? I’m Just Getting Started!” – Why I Hate Being Asked This Question

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

One question I absolutely hate being asked is: “Why are you still working so hard at your age?”

It’s a question that, at first, seems harmless—maybe even well-intentioned. But every time I hear it, I feel a strange mix of frustration, disbelief, and sometimes even amusement. Why do people assume that age dictates when you should stop pursuing your passions?

The Assumption Behind the Question

I know where this question comes from. Society has conditioned us to believe that there’s a timeline for everything:

• Get a degree in your 20s.

• Build a career in your 30s.

• Reach the peak in your 40s.

• Start slowing down in your 50s.

• Retire and relax in your 60s.

By this logic, someone like me—who has already spent decades in the industry—should be sitting on a beach somewhere, sipping coconut water, and watching the sunset.

But that’s not who I am.

I’ve spent my life immersed in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Why would I stop now, when I have so much more to contribute?

Passion Doesn’t Have an Expiry Date

People who ask this question seem to believe that work is just about earning a living. They don’t understand that for some of us, work is an extension of who we are.

I don’t see myself as “working hard” in the traditional sense. I see myself as constantly learning, innovating, and sharing my knowledge. Every project, every challenge, and every new development in IoT or AI excites me. The moment I stop engaging with these ideas is the moment I stop growing.

For me, stopping would feel like an early death—at least intellectually.

The Fear of Irrelevance

Another reason I continue pushing forward is the fear of irrelevance. Technology moves at an incredible speed. If you step back, even for a few years, the industry moves on without you. I’ve seen brilliant minds fade away simply because they decided to “take it easy.”

That’s not going to be me.

I want to remain at the forefront of IoT, AI, and Smart Cities. I want to contribute to the discussions, shape the industry, and mentor the next generation of innovators. If that means working just as hard (or even harder) as I did 20 years ago, then so be it.

What People Don’t See

What people don’t see is the fulfillment that comes from what I do. They see the long hours, the constant travel, and the seemingly endless meetings. But they don’t see the joy of watching a startup thrive because of the guidance I provided.

They don’t see the excitement I feel when Favoriot partners with companies across the globe, expanding our impact.

They don’t see the pride in helping universities build IoT curriculums or the satisfaction of watching my ideas take shape in real-world applications.

This isn’t about money. It’s about legacy. It’s about impact.

Redefining “Retirement”

The traditional idea of retirement—where you stop working and just “relax”—doesn’t appeal to me. I would rather redefine retirement as a stage where I have the freedom to choose the projects I want to work on, without financial pressure.

And that’s exactly what I’m doing now.

If retirement means I get to write, teach, mentor, innovate, and continue shaping the future of IoT—then I guess I’m “retired” in my own way.

The Next Time Someone Asks…

The next time someone asks me, “Why are you still working so hard?” I might just smile and say:

“Because I love what I do. And because I’m not done yet.”