FOUNDER STORY

🚀 From Retirement to Retirepreneur

A Journey of Rediscovery

"As you get older, you begin to realize time is getting shorter—and my wife and I want to live a full, exciting life with no regrets! Keep exploring life to its fullest until we can't."

🔄 The End That Became a Beginning

In June 2023, at the age of 61, I turned off my computer for the last time as a CFO. After years of building someone else's dream, I was burned out and ready for a change. My retirement was unexpectedly anticlimactic—there was no gold watch, no grand office party. Working remotely due to COVID meant I simply lost access to company systems, received well-wishes from colleagues, and just like that, I was "retired."

"What I didn't know then was that this wasn't an ending at all—it was the beginning of the most fulfilling chapter of my life."

🕳️ The Familiar Void

My wife Shari and I sold our condo and bought a house that needed remodeling. The project kept me busy, but I could already feel something stirring inside me. A restlessness. A void that needed filling.

This feeling wasn't new. Years earlier, from 1998 to 2008, I had experienced the profound satisfaction of building a custom home building company from nothing, growing it into an award-winning business in Central Florida. The 2008 recession took everything—my business, my financial security—but that same year brought me Shari, my incredible wife and soul mate.

One lesson had stuck with me through those years: I wanted to build something of my own again, but this time without the high risk, physical offices, and employees. I dreamed of an online business, though I had no specific plan.

🎯 Confronting Regrets

As retirement settled in, I began facing my life's regrets. One that had always nagged at me was my college experience at the University of Akron. I never felt connected to my alma mater and often joked that if I ever won the lottery, I'd get my master's degree at Ohio State.

In January 2024, seven months into retirement, I had a surge of momentum. Instead of talking about "someday," I decided to act. I applied to the University of Florida's Masters in Entrepreneurship program—a highly-rated school with passionate alumni.

Key Decision Point: I reached out to business contacts for recommendations, worked on my application, and confronted my less-than-stellar 40-year-old GPA head-on. Then came the waiting.

🦅 Taking the Leap

"Congrats, you are accepted at UF!" ✅

When that email arrived in April 2024, I felt both exhilarated and terrified. I had committed to this path in front of family, friends, and business associates. There was no turning back.

Even funnier was that I was already on academic probation because of my undergraduate GPA from four decades earlier. But I was determined to prove myself. Shari and I drove to campus, walked around holding hands, took photos, and loaded up on Gator gear from the bookstore.

As August 2024 approached, the nerves intensified. "What the hell did I just sign up for?" I wondered, laughing at myself.

📚 Learning to Learn Again

The education landscape had transformed dramatically since 1984. Everything was now online—classes, syllabi, assignments, and textbooks. After the initial adjustment, I appreciated having access to everything 24/7.

New Challenge: Group projects presented another hurdle: coordinating with team members with different schedules and work ethics. I joked with a professor that "in the real world, I could fire non-performers!" But these experiences pushed me to adapt and grow.

🏔️ Tackling Another Mountain

While diving into my studies, I decided to confront another lifetime regret: my weight and health. This had been a personal struggle affecting my confidence despite my professional accomplishments.

Personal Milestone: Today, I'm at my lowest weight since 1980, practicing Pilates several times weekly with Shari, and hiking when we're in Blowing Rock, NC. I feel better than I have in decades—a confidence boost that has permeated every aspect of my life.

💡 The Birth of Retirepreneur

As part of my entrepreneurship program, many classes required business plans. We could either create fantasy companies or develop actual business ideas.

"It would be insane not to take this amazing opportunity to build something." 💪

One early morning, coffee in hand, I sat at the kitchen counter with a notepad for a brainstorming session. Three hours and about 20 scattered pieces of paper later, the concept for Retirepreneur emerged—though not yet the name.

I realized what I truly wanted: to help people like me create vibrant, fulfilling, financially secure futures—lives without regrets and full of stories worth sharing with grandchildren.

In a subsequent brainstorming session, the name "Retirepreneur" clicked. I noticed "solopreneur" was popular but not owned by anyone, and I recognized that people our age want to feel part of something—a group, a lifestyle, a community.

Building the Brand:

A marketing friend loved the name
Discovered the domain was for sale at $500 and purchased it immediately
Applied for a trademark, which was approved in April 2025

🏆 From Concept to Competition

I developed a comprehensive business plan exceeding 50 pages, complete with pitch presentations and slide decks. My professor encouraged me to enter the Luby Microgrant Pitch Competition.

Without financial pressure, I could thoughtfully develop my vision—how to create value for subscribers and members, what content to offer, and how to deliver it using the Business Model Canvas as my foundation.

The Competition Journey:

Created a 10-minute video pitch embedded in a PowerPoint deck
Maintained my mantra: "Experience everything you can during this graduate program"
November 2024: Won $5,000 in grants to develop Retirepreneur

😨 Facing the Fear

During an interview following my win, the Entrepreneurship Program Director encouraged me to participate in the Big Idea Gator Business Plan Competition in January 2025. This would require a 30-minute live presentation—something that terrified me despite my confidence in boardroom meetings.

I explained that I was building a lifestyle business tailored to my age and life stage, not a "Big Idea", but they insisted I participate. Of the 60 teams that registered, 50 submitted plans by March 2025.

Confronting My Fears: While taking an oral communication class that spring, I struggled to translate my naturally vibrant personality to formal presentations. My brother joked that my practice videos made me look "like a hostage" rather than the engaging person he knew.

⭕ The Full Circle Moment

On April 16, 2024, I had emailed my supporters after being accepted to UF: "I hope to have one more great idea to pursue besides finance spreadsheets."

Exactly one year later, on April 16, 2025 — a perfect full-circle moment — I received notification that Retirepreneur had been selected as one of 16 semi-finalists for the Big Idea Competition.

With my incredibly supportive wife by my side, I traveled to Gainesville to deliver my 15-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Though I didn't advance to the finals, I conquered my fear and gave it my all.

As one friend said: "Congrats, you already won! The experience and contacts developed will last forever." Another added: "Congrats! You entered the arena and competed. Most people never get past talking about it."

Shari and I stayed an extra day to support the finalists—a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by competitors, professors, and directors. During the awards ceremony, I was honored to receive the "Entrepreneurial Spirit Award" and a $1,000 grant.

🏆 Achievements Summary:

Accepted into UF's Master's in Entrepreneurship program at age 61
Earned straight A's in first semester, removing academic probation
Won $5,000 Luby Microgrant for Retirepreneur concept
Selected as semi-finalist in Big Idea Competition among 60 teams
Received "Entrepreneurial Spirit Award" and additional $1,000 grant
Secured Retirepreneur.com domain and trademark

🛤️ The Journey Continues

Today, I'm building the Retirepreneur platform on Kajabi, developing content, and creating engagement strategies. I've built an extensive website and free course, with plans to launch the community in the next 90 days.

My Implementation Roadmap:

📣 June 1st: Official press announcement
🎓 University outreach program launch
💼 Strategic LinkedIn engagement campaign
📱 Multi-platform marketing initiatives

The foundation has been laid—now it's time to build something extraordinary.

🌟 Life Without Regrets

I've never been more excited about the future. Shari and I have never been more in love or more enthusiastic about what lies ahead. I'll graduate with my master's degree in December 2025, with our four adult children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren gathering to celebrate.

Do I still get nervous stepping outside my comfort zone—requesting podcast appearances, conducting YouTube interviews with Retirepreneur success stories, and other visibility-expanding activities? Absolutely.

But I've learned that fear doesn't dissipate with success. It's a constant companion on the journey to growth. The difference now is that I know I can face it—and so can you.

"I am actually a very humble man and I don't want to ever be seen as bragging, or coming off better than anyone. I have the same fears and uncertainties as anyone else. But once I commit, I am all in." 💯

✉️ An Invitation

My story isn't exceptional—it's a testament to what's possible when you decide to live with no regrets, when you build and create the best life that makes YOU happy.

Retirepreneur isn't just a platform; it's a movement to help others accomplish the same transformation. This isn't about my story—it's about creating yours.

And this is only the beginning.