Do You Really Want a Successful Retirement?

Have you ever listened to an elite pianist who composes their own music? For years, I was blessed to sit in church on Sundays and experience the magic of one such man, who transformed familiar hymns into something extraordinary. If you’ve ever heard a symphony, concert violinist, or pianist like this, you know the feeling.

After one performance, a listener approached the pianist, deeply moved, and declared, “I wish I could play like you.” The pianist replied bluntly, “No, you don’t.” Surprised, the man insisted, “Yes, I do!” Again, the pianist said, “No, you don’t.” The man asked, “How can you know what I want?”

The pianist explained, “You may say you want it, but do you really? Are you willing to spend countless hours at the piano until your fingers are calloused and your joints ache? Will you sacrifice sleep, listen to greater musicians, seek wisdom from teachers and critics, and play until you’re sick of playing—and then keep going? When you fail, will you persist? Will you give up every other hobby and demand life presents? I don’t think you would, so I don’t think you truly want it.”

I can’t recall where I first heard this story, nor can I find it online, but it has stayed with me.

So, I ask you: Do you really want a successful retirement?

Are you willing to do what it takes? What if it means changing your lifestyle today—downsizing your home, quitting expensive habits, or altering what you buy? Will you rearrange your priorities and pay yourself first (save before you spend)? What if you need to save 20% or more of your paycheck? What will you sacrifice to ensure you have the right funds and protections for your future self—an extra pair of boots, a weekend excursion, the wine club?

Are you willing to make your future a priority? Will you take the time to gather what your financial planner needs to help you devise a plan? Will you spend 6–9 hours out of your busy schedule to solidify this plan? Are you willing to change your ways if needed—save more, spend less, take more risk with investments, work longer, or some combination?

Just as the pianist spoke truthfully to his audience, the reality is that most people don’t truly want a successful retirement—otherwise, they’d be doing what it takes to achieve it.

Immediate gratification is a powerful force. Often, we don’t realize its grip until it’s gone too far. Retirement isn’t just about choosing to be an amazing musician; it’s a real hope and dream for millions of Americans. But to get there—and stay there—successfully, it requires the same discipline.