Now what?

[Ozzy]

Now that it's out there in the public domain...

I sold my first web design and hosting business in 2001, then sold UKBF in 2007, a small telco in 2008, a company formation business in 2014, and last week completed the sale of my main technology business, which I started in 2007.
For the first time in 27 years I'm not running a company.

I promised my wife I won't start any more businesses, and to be honest I don't want to, but damn its only been a week and I'm already twiddling my thumbs and having crazy ideas.

 

[fisicx]

Help muck out the horses. Paint the house. Clear out the garage/loft. Volunteer at the local charity shop.

Join the u3a. That will keep you busy. Volunteer to join the committee and they will bite your hand off.

 

[Ozzy]

Help muck out the horses. Paint the house. Clear out the garage/loft.

We've met, so you know I'm not really able to do these - but I have taken on some compliance and governance (and website) roles working for my daughter.

Volunteer to join the committee

I am due to become chair of governors for a school I have sat on the board for a while now. That will keep me busy there, and I have offered additional capacity to the DfE/C&EC/LA to support careers guidance for SEN children.

I also ordered an extra railway carriage conversion to be converted into a podcast studio to relaunch my podcast again, and also start a new one relevant to my daughter's business.

The weirdest thing I am struggling with a little is after ~35 years of never being out of full-time, and having run my own business and being in charge for so many years, this is really unnerving, as I always had something going on that I was accountable and responsible for.

 

[ctrlbrk]

having crazy ideas.

What crazy ideas? Inquiring minds want to know

 

[UKSBD]

I've just taken back possession of my cottage.

Been working on it on and off this week, absolutely loving it.

The White Cottage 2026 Update ~ The White Cottage

The White Cottage 2026 Update Having taken back possession of The White cottage at the end of June 2026 I’ve been doing a bit of tidying up. How it was 30/06/2026 1st on the list was trimming the hedge so I could get up the lane easier, next it was point up, prepare and repaint […]

www.geraldduck.co.uk

 

[Ozzy]

I've just taken back possession of my cottage.

Now that is a project worthy of a retirement plan!

What crazy ideas?

I'm actually working on a business plan for a new AI venture. I've been doing a lot of dabbling and learning in AI, the sort of deep diving rabbit hole stuff that would make @Data Swami proud.

 

[UKSBD]

Now that is a project worthy of a retirement plan!

Yes, I really don't know what I'm going to do with it yet though.

At the moment I'm torn between doing very little more apart from cleaning up and selling it as it is.

Replacing all the windows and upgrading it a bit better so we can either move back in to it or rent it out.

Getting it really well done and nicely furnished to use as for holiday letting.

Really enjoying working on it at the moment, nice to keep active.

 

[Data Swami]

I'm actually working on a business plan for a new AI venture. I've been doing a lot of dabbling and learning in AI, the sort of deep diving rabbit hole stuff that would make @Data Swami proud.

What secrets have you been keeping from me XD?

I still think you should go on that traveling tour round asia