Happy Retirement Rich!

Well, well, well... look who's decided they've had quite enough of pretending to enjoy Monday meetings and mandatory fun activities.

Pensioners can have as many damn biscuits as they want (as long as they are high in fibre)

After all these years, you've earned the right to do absolutely nothing except whatever the hell you want. We're not jealous. Not at all. *cries in still-employed*

🦄 As rare as your
actual sick days

⭐🐟 Regenerates limbs,
unlike your patience

🐻 Does its business
in the woods (goals)

They say if a unicorn, a starfish, and a bear walk into a forest, only the bear knows what happens next. And now, so will you.

— Ancient Retirement Proverb (probably)

Your New To-Do List:

Wake up whenever the hell you want
Ignore emails (legitimately)
Perfect the art of napping
Tell people you're "consulting"
Finally find out if bears really do... you know

May your retirement be as magical as a unicorn, as resilient as a starfish growing back its arms, and as free as a bear doing its private business in the woods without HR involvement.

Enjoy your retirement!

With questionable sincerity,
Your Soon-to-be-Former Colleagues

See you back at work in two weeks.

Messages for Rich

Words of wisdom (and questionable advice) from the team

Hey Rich,

All the best on the next phase of your career. It was wonderful working with / for you and I will always remember the laughs and fun we had. It is always great to have an argument with you as sometimes you prove me wrong or at the very least challenge my assumptions :-)

I hope you will be just as happy at i1 as I am and looking forward to continuing our journey together. You will always be a star(fish) to me.

— Steve

Richard, in a team like ours, full of strong views and independent minds, you've always been a steady and respected presence.

You brought experience, wisdom, and quiet confidence, and that has meant a lot to all of us.

With all our bear-in-the-woods jokes, it seems only right that retirement is taking you closer to the bush and the outdoors you enjoy most. You always seemed one of the more natural bears in the group.

Thank you, Richard, for everything you've brought to the team. We'll miss you, and we wish you a long and happy retirement and a great comeback!!

— Deepak

From your hands in your hair meetings to meetings where everyone is being regaled, it has been a great honor and pleasure working with you.

Enjoy your short retirement and know we eagerly await your return...

Thank you for everything and see you again soon.

PS: Bring back some great stories of being retired

— Rean

It's been a real privilege to work with you, for quite some years now Richard, and I think we have done some amazing things for INN8.

Even with some of our occasional professional disagreements, I've always been amazed in how you come through everything, professionally and personally.

I've always seen you as someone which I have learnt a lot from. And I thank you for that.

And I always enjoyed your army and hunting stories. We had some darn good laughs, good memories.

I Pray you be Blessed on all of your future journeys and adventures.

— Sammy

Hi Rich.

From that first gravy train getaway in Arniston, where the starfish was born, I knew this was going to be an irreverent wild ride (yes I know - take that in any direction you like!) One thing I love about you is no matter the audience or the gravity of the meeting, you don't change - they need to deal with the authentic you. Don't ever change that!

Being a fellow old fart facing being put out to pasture, I share your frustration of having so much to give and not being recognised for it. I want you to know you're the best damn business architect, knowledge-wise (others are more wily politically), that I know, and these people absolutely need you to give direction before any of them put their short-sighted focus on the task at hand. They talk over you and override the strategic principles learnt over years at their peril.

You're bloody excellent and I've loved working with you.

— Andrew

CONGRATULATIONS!

Messages for Rich