Funworld April 2010

After almost 54 years at Disney, I retired on July 17, 2009— Disneyland’s 54th birthday. On my second day as an ex-executive, I said to my lovely spouse, Leah: “Here’s a list of calls, etc., I would like you to handle for me today.” Leah’s answer established my new challenge: “I’m not your assistant,” she replied. “And by the way, I’m not answering your telephone, either!”

I have recovered from the shock born of 53 years of wedded bliss. But I knew I had to rethink how I worked when, late in 2009, I established Marty Sklar Creative Inc. to answer all the requests I receive for concept development, speaking engagements, writing, and advice about leadership. And to find a new way to have my telephone calls answered for me.

It’s now clear to me that while I was ready for retirement, I had not really prepared for it. I suspect if you are nearing your retirement years, you are sailing alone in the same boat or racing on a roller coaster ride toward the end of your professional career someday soon. So I asked six of the highest achievers I know in our industry how they handled the onset of those inevitable AARP years. Here are their “10 Best Tips” to help you begin your new journey.

What kind of plans should I make in advance?
Price: I spent a long time retiring—from 1969 to 2007 to be exact. The best and final advice was from my wife, Anne, who bought me an upscale Mickey Mouse watch in 2007 and said, “It’s time to quit!”

Gurr: Be more open to radical change earlier in life rather than getting comfy with a large corporation’s “protected” career.

Murphy:Work at staying healthy both mentally and physically. Everything has so much more intrigue and allure when you are vertical!

Upson:Wayne Williams, my partner at Smith and Williams Architects, told me his retirement plan was to continue to do the work he was doing in our practice, but at his own pace and in his own style. Wayne passed away in his early ’90s literally at his home drawing board.

Should I “go fishing” or stay active?
Iwerks: Have as many interests as possible. Look at retirement as a time of pleasure and fun. To retire without the excitement of getting up every morning looking forward to working on a project or continuing education or honing of skills such as music, writing, or art is another day in one’s life that is gone, never to return.

Ward: Remain passionate and curious every day, thinking about and exploring opportunities rather than constraints or endings.

Murphy: We (my wife, Linda, and I) spent the first two years of our retirement building a wonderful Craftsman-style house near Bear Valley, California. There was absolutely no time for rocking chairs or Bon Bons!

Gurr: Do not vow to go fishing and visit the grandchildren. You’ll soon die of brain rot!

What about a “hobby”?
Price: In college, I was a techie. Here (assisted living facility in Claremont, California) I am a new student of poetry in 15 centuries. Get a hobby that “burns.” If it isn’t poetry, try something else.

Murphy: Writing and [creating] gourd art have become a part of my daily life. I am never without a creative project.

Iwerks: My advice to anyone is to find a hobby or interest as early as possible. Pursue those interests with a passion!

What are you enjoying the most about retirement?
Upson: Freedom … in the use of my time and energy.

Murphy: The flexibility it allows. Also, we’ve developed a new circle of friends where corporate goings on are a foreign language.

Ward: Finding opportunities to apply the years of accumulated experiences and knowledge into “applied wisdom” toward enriching the lives of those around us, and maximizing client asset values when engaged.

Gurr: I jump out of bed at 5:45 a.m. every day with no pains of any kind, marvel at the fact that I’m still alive for at least one more day, and just can’t wait to open the newspaper and turn on the computer to learn what’s happening. And the sad part? Oh gosh, it’s bedtime and I have to shut down. Bummer!

What’s the biggest surprise about retirement?
Iwerks: I have to report for jury duty on Monday. It’s difficult to come up with a good excuse when retired!

Gurr: I’ll get to your retirement questions, but not today. Had you called for this information when I was working, I would have been able to do it immediately, since work is not as busy as retirement!

How can I use my experience?
Ward: I’m very excited about my collaboration with Philippe Cousteau Jr., grandson of Jacques, and our new venture, Azure Worldwide. We are focusing on inspiring action to cause positive change in our lifestyles. It’s especially rewarding in my 60s to be embraced by 30-somethings.

Iwerks: My retirement allowed me to participate for several years with the [new] Walt Disney Family Museum. With the cooperation of Disney, I was able to participate in the restoration of the Multiplane Camera #12, now on display at the museum [in San Francisco].

Upson: In the past 10 years, I have been fortunate to consult on projects in Abu Dhabi, China, England, Korea, Morocco, Malaysia, and a variety of programs in the U.S. and Canada. The work has been stimulating and fun … the travel less so.

Price: I wrote a book, “Walt’s Revolution,” to pass on my experiences and approaches to consulting.

Murphy: I’m on the San Bernardino National Forest Association Board, give occasional talks, and come up with wild and crazy ideas regularly.

Should I accept a consulting role if “they” offer it when I retire?
Upson: Universal offered me a part-time role in Universal Creative for an indefinite period. I thought my hanging around would be unfair to those replacing me, so I passed. In retrospect, I should have more seriously considered the offer as a way to help with the transition to a one-man consulting firm.

Murphy: I continued my “government relations” activities [as a Disney consultant] for one year. This was an amazing way to ease into retirement.

What would you do differently (if you had a chance to start over)?
Ward: I wouldn’t change a thing—the good, the bad, or the ugly. I am a collection of it all.

Upson: I should have made a greater effort to pursue and develop skills in one or more vocational or community inter-ests as a means of having a more active, fulfilling postemployment life.

Price: You don’t get to replay. Anything.

What do you do to stay healthy?
Murphy: Linda and I both love to stay in shape (e.g., jogging, hiking, pushing my snow plow, etc.). The trails in these amazing mountains (Bear Valley near Big Bear Lake, California) are my church.

Ward: I’m passionate about cycling, both on the road and mountain biking, even though the latter is a bit of a challenge here in Florida. It helps riding with pals who are all 10- 25 years younger than you are!

Gurr: Having never been the slightest bit athletic, I began hiking more and more by age 66, then became an avid mountain biker at age 68. I’ve amassed more than 6,500 miles of hikes and bikes now by age 78. I can’t visualize ever not biking. (Well, maybe flatter trails eventually.)

What’s your one “best” piece of advice?
Price: As a retired man I am free to do what I want to do!

Gurr: Take advantage of the hours no longer spent in meetings, and use them for wild exploration!

Ward: Reflect on the saying of Krishnamurti: “There is no path to truth. Truth must be discovered, but there is no formula for its discovery. You must set out on the uncharted sea, and the uncharted sea is yourself.”

***

As for my own retirement status, my DNA is a lot like that of famous baseball pitcher Satchel Paige, who said: “Don’t look back; somebody might be gaining on you!” So I keep running:

� President of Ryman Arts, a nonprofit I cofounded 20 years ago to serve talented young high school artists.

�� Lots of speeches to/for travel companies, Walt Disney Family Museum, UCLA class, IAAPA Attractions Expo panel (with Buzz and Bob Gurr), museum panel, convention/conferences.

�� Writing articles—Disney Vacation Club magazine, forewords for new Imagineering books, and Disneyland 55th birthday book.

�� Boards of directors, UCLA Alumni Association, and new Disneyland Alumni Club.

�� Building an office at home so I can decide what my new company, Marty Sklar Creative Inc., wants to do.

�� Most time-consuming: Writing and answering my own e-mail (for the first time!). And learning to type again after 30-plus years!