I'm Not Going to Retire with Bonnie-Jean Brooks

EP 011: In this episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast, we are joined by Bonnie-Jean Brooks. Bonnie is the President and CEO of OHI. OHI is a local nonprofit organization that provides support and services to people with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental illness. We wanted to have Bonnie on the show with us because Bonnie has adamantly stated that she is NOT going to retire!

Bonnie begins by telling us about her upbringing, including her journey of becoming a first-generation college graduate, to how she lived all across the country and how along the way she was always willing to accept a challenge.

Ultimately, after some time away, Bonnie found herself back in Maine continuing her education career, until one day she received a phone call asking her to come through on a favor that she owed. That favor led to the 40-year career that Bonnie is still working to this day. Bonnie shares with us some insight into OHI and the great work that the organization is responsible for.

In a previous show, we talked to a family business owner where we discussed balancing the success of the organization with your own personal success. Sometimes they can be intertwined and sometimes exclusive. There may be a time when Bonnie has to involuntarily retire. How has she positioned OHI and herself for that inevitable change?

We discuss the natural gravity for someone to retire after working for 40 years and how Bonnie attributes having a career in a field she is so passionate about to be able to combat that gravity and still work every day. Bonnie also shares what aspects of the aging process scare her as she looks ahead into the next stage of her life.

Closing out the conversation, we ask Bonnie one final question, what advice would she give someone who, much like her, wants to work as long as they possibly can in a job that they love so much? Be sure to stick around to hear what she has to say!

What You’ll Learn in This Podcast Episode:

Welcome, Bonnie! [2:08]

Bonnie becomes a first-generation college graduate and travels around the country [11:25]

What drove Bonnie ultimately back to Maine? [16:51]

How did Bonnie get involved at OHI? What is OHI and what does the organization do? [21:24]  

After 40 years, there’s a gravity to retire, how does Bonnie handle that? [32:55]

Discussion about doing a job for a career compared to having a career that is a passion. [36:13]

What scares Bonnie about the aging process? [46:37]

What advice would Bonnie give someone who wants to work as long as possible in a job that they love? [50:04]

Ben and Curtis wrap up the episode. [52:49]