Life after early retirement

How do you feel about your life after this early retirement?

I don’t feel I have nothing to do. But it’s more relaxing. Previously, since I like to be punctual, I often had back-to-back meetings, which added pressure. This depends on each person. I know what’s enough. I worked with IBM for 20 years. I went through what’s called "mid-life". It was time to shift my life’s course. The saying "change when you are ready" is a good one.

I’m the kind of person who likes to think and plan. Some people may think of retirement but if they have not prepared their financial obligations, they might not be able to forgo their full-time jobs. I thoroughly and carefully thought [about whether] I could somewhat afford this. And I don’t think that by having more money, I would become happy. I can enjoy life without getting stuck with a permanent job. I would like to encourage people to plan their finances and career paths.

[Retirement] gives me the chance to meet new challenges. If I were still working with IBM, to become a director of a public company, I would have to go through an approval process and the company might not allow it, or my contribution to the company might be affected. As I choose not to work full-time, and now I’m on the boards of two companies, Asiasoft and Easy Buy.

I have been able to leverage my strengths and experience through these part-time jobs.

Meanwhile, investments are my personal interest, and I think it can be complementary to other jobs that I’m doing. I’m also writing a column in Prachachat Turakij.

I was a co-founder of Thaivi.com more than 10 years ago. A few months ago I was appointed president of the newly formed Thai Value Investors Association, a not-for-profit organisation [which runs Thaivi.com]. We aren’t OK with only helping people to become rich. We’ve agreed to donate proceeds from our activities to underprivileged people in two ways: first, for education, possibly through edfthai.org and the Rural Doctors Foundation.

How do you manage your time?

It’s quite flexible. I’ve been quite busy with the setting up of the Thai Value Investors Association during the past few months. Usually, I allocate [some of] my time to follow-up investment news and information, and the rest to the two companies of which I’m a director.

Would you consider returning to the corporate world in the future?

I’ve become like?? Come to like?? the part-time jobs, because At the part-time jobs, I think I have some value to contribute from my experiences. Now the world has changed. The sun is rising on Asia, which includes Thailand. I think it’s an opportunity for Thai corporates to grow or expand their businesses abroad, leveraging the strengthening baht.

Nevertheless, these Thai corporations must be willing to pay more. We have many quality Thai human resources but many of them have been lured by foreign companies that pay more. Besides compensation, foreign companies can offer them a better reputation, exposure, and language skills, and they have the attraction of being global. Thai companies have turned out to be excluded from their [job seekers’] first priority.

This is a very opportune time. At the end of the day, Thai firms still understand Thai culture better. Big corporates, not only IBM, since they are listed abroad, tend to be very result-oriented and give a lot of attention to results quarter by quarter. I would rather opt for profit optimisation, which takes into account many balancing acts, than profit maximisation.

During an initial period, Thai talents may enjoy [working with multinational firms], but at some point they will find these firms are very focused on the short term, since their CEOs’ pay and options are aligned to the financial results. For example, Thailand has some unique features such as the "yellow-red" issue, but when there is a challenge, they [foreign companies] do not have much interest and understanding. Asiasoft is one Thai company that has expanded in the region. It’s the No 1 online gaming firm in Thailand, but its CEO has a vision to be No 1 in every country. It has offices in Singapore and Malaysia, and is expanding to Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. This is a precise kick on my feet.???? I have experience running regional offices and it is an industry that has to use IT.

At Easy Buy, I have been able to gain knowledge on personal-finance business while contributing my experience in governance.

Knowledge of personal finance and financial planning is something the country is lacking. I’ve encouraged my son, who is studying Mathayom 6, to take a free online course from the University of Michigan. My daughter, who is studying abroad, and her friend are also taking this course as well as myself. We discuss with one another this 10-week Introduction to Finance course at night.

I’m quite close with my children. I know my children’s friends and they know my friends. I got this idea from Khun Chaiwat Uthaiwan, ??is this the SCB guy?? an ex-customer and my senior friend at the Triam Udom Suksa School.??? Does this mean "old school friend"??? Every year I will invite my children’s friends, about 15 people in total, to enjoy some meals at my upcountry house. Whenever I have activities, golfing or whatever, my children will accompany me.

My son is preparing to take a TOEFL [Test of English as a Foreign Language] and will soon be following his sister to study abroad. He won’t take the Thai university-entrance examination. If he waits to go on to study at the master’s level, he might stick with Thailand and eventually come back to work in the country. Studying for a bachelor’s degree, he will be [able to] settle down easily anywhere. I think the world will be getting smaller and he can make his own decision on which environment he would like to live in. Regarding the quality of people, I look at three dimensions.

First, work: People should maximise their potential and drive to the limit, which is also proving themselves. I have this proven milestone to an extent and I will continue to contribute through my part-time jobs. Second, financial. My belief is that if we don’t have economic and survival problems, we won’t trouble others. My living costs are not high. I don’t stick to brand names. I can survive without struggle.

Third, family. I don’t view my success just by the fact that my children graduate and get a job. Rather, I must have a warm family, and my children are quality citizens. Now I’m not fully accomplished this yet. ??? does this mean he’s going to have more kids??

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