Redirecting.work

The Catalyst for Change

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Bill’s journey from a high-profile career leading HR technology to retirement was not completely smooth. He created three separate revenue streams fed by his analyst-level knowledge of HR tech. He shut them off separately without sufficient planning for what followed or for retirement.

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As co-founder and co-chair of the HR Tech conference, Bill built it for 16 years into a world-class event: the world-wide annual town meeting for everyone who cares about the domain. After negotiating 10 years of deferred compensation from the conference owner, Bill identified, trained and picked his successor, stepping aside at age 65.

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Bill had reduced his influential columns, once monthly, to a yearly comparison of the Big Three sales of Cloud systems. He variously termed that a horse race and then a steeplechase. But then two of the three came to believe it was not in their business interests to disclose honest numbers about the slow, uphill struggle converting 25,000 on-premise customers to the Cloud. They stopped cooperating with the annual feature, which naturally died.

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Bill had earlier started a podcast called “The Bill Kutik Radio Show” in March 2008 before the term “podcast” was in common use. As at the conference, he interviewed leading practitioners, vendor CEOs, consultants, analysts and academics. He always focussed on what they thought or did, not on the software they sold, implemented or used. He recorded a show every two weeks for more than seven years reaching a total of 183 in the archive. The founders of the consultancy Knowledge Infusion, Jason Averbook and Heidi Spirgi, sponsored the show. That sponsorship ended when Appirio bought KI.

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Bill started a video version of the Radio Show in 2015 called “Firing Line with Bill Kutik.” With his Emmy-Award-winning partner Bob Geline, Bill learned the new language of television. Groups of shows were sponsored by various vendors with SAP Successfactors helping start the show. When the company tired of the show nearly six years later, it withdrew funding and the show was folded. Bill finally completely retired at the age of 71.

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He felt “adrift” and struggled to find his footing. “Firing Line” was not a successful Second Act to HR Tech.

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A New Direction

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After some self-assessment, Bill took Marcus Buckingham’s advice to “play to your strengths” and “do what makes you feel good.” Bill realized his skill set included selling tickets through direct mail and “getting people to do what he wants” for the conference program.  He directed this talent towards non-profits, including a major land trust where he successfully increased membership from 1,000 to 2,500 through direct mail campaigns. Now on the board, he leverages his experience as a “strategy guy,” excelling at “selling with words” and securing agreement.

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Bill’s approach to retirement is all or nothing: “no shades of gray.” He is completely retired, does not work for money, relying on investments for income. Financially secure, he enjoys his time, including chartering a 100-foot sailboat in September 2024. “I work to live. I only feel good when I’m doing this stuff,” he says about his work with the Aspetuck Land Trust. “Bring it on! I’m not a believer in balance. I need projects.”

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Navigating Retirement Challenges

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Retirement brought its own set of challenges, particularly at home. “My wife can’t stand me being home all the time,” Bill admits. Before retirement and COVID-19, Bill’s frequent work trips provided important breaks for both him and his wife. “One day my wife said to me, ‘You know when you were working you took at least six trips a year – to Silicon Valley and once to China to your conference, to videotape your show, and to present at other meetings – and you’d be gone for up to a week. Those were great breaks for us.’ What she meant was ‘me’.”

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Recognizing the strain constant togetherness placed on their relationship, Bill booked a trip to San Francisco. “I immediately booked Jet Blue Mint JFK/SFO – the first ticket on that route I’d paid for myself in 15 years. Sigh… And I had a swell time visiting my sister and tons of work friends. Never called the wife for 10 days – like a trial separation. Absence did make the heart grow fonder.”

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Advice for a Successful Transition

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Bill’s journey offers valuable lessons for those approaching or navigating retirement:

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1.    Play to Your Strengths: Find ways to use your unique skills in new contexts. Bill applied his talent for persuasion and strategy to non-profit work, finding fulfillment in a different setting.

2.    Stay Engaged: Retirement doesn’t mean stopping. Stay involved in projects that bring you joy and purpose. Bill’s work with the Land Trust keeps him energized and engaged.

3.    Financial Planning: Ensure you’re financially secure before retiring. Bill’s investments provide the income he needs to enjoy his retirement fully.

4.    Maintain Independence: Avoid relying solely on a role or organization for your identity. Bill learned in 1990 when his fifth start-up publication folded never to let his identity be dictated by one job or one corporation.

5.    Balance Togetherness: Recognize the need for personal space in retirement. Bill and his wife worked out a balance to ensure their relationship remains strong.

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Conclusion

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Bill’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and finding new ways to contribute. From a high-profile career in HR tech to impactful work with nonprofits, he demonstrates the importance of leveraging one’s strengths and staying engaged in meaningful activities. His journey through retirement highlights the challenges and rewards of this new phase of life, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to redefine their purpose and find joy beyond their career.