I Used to Be Somebody: (Un)Retirement Lessons Learned

Back to Blog

Subscribe to the podcast on
Apple Spotify or More

Richard Turner Interview: From Courtroom to Darkroom

Diana Landau | October 05, 2020

Carl interviewed Richard Turner, an active 82 year-old with over 20 years of adventurous (un)retirement in the Tiki Bar studio last week. Richard lives in Sacramento but has a national reputation. His life has taken many twists—from prominent positions in state government to managing a large law firm to taking a dramatic U-turn to professional photographer and poet.

 

In his early 30s, Richard was already a Deputy District Attorney when he was given the opportunity to work for Ronald Reagan, then California’s governor. Richard says that even if you don’t agree with Reagan’s policies, he was always a gentleman. He worked closely with Reagan and the team understood that the goal was the White House. Richard also stepped up to become Governor’s representative on the scene during the 1969 People’s Park riots.

 

He then left his plumb job on the Governor’s legal team to become a trial lawyer and start his own practice. Specializing in state governmental issues, Richard grew his firm to 15 lawyers and 40 employees. His life was about work, kids, and their schedules mortgages, graduations—we all know the drill. He felt all the long hours in his work life were taking a toll. “I started to feel that five decades rushed by, like overnight,” and he began to wonder about the world outside his own. As a trial lawyer, his life was characterized by conflict. He wanted more.

 

At 60, spur of the moment, Richard told his wife he was going back East and would be back in a month. He had no plan, no agenda. He stopped in Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, taking photos with a brand new camera. One morning, before he bucked hay on a cattle ranch, he was sitting on a log as the mist rose from the Bitterroot River. An inner voice whispered, “Richard, you swagger around a courtroom all day arguing with people. There are a lot of other things happening in the world. Wake up before the miracles pass you by.” Richard says his sleep in the woods that night was delightful.

 

So Richard went from courtroom to darkroom, winding up his client responsibilities at the law firm and embarking on a new career as professional nature photographer and poet—two things he hadn’t done before but took enormous pleasure in—even though his friends and family thought he was crazy. It took some work to wrap things up in his old life, but he says the decision was easy.

 

Fast forward to now: Richard has sold thousands of copies of his book, “I Can’t Always See My Path, but I Keep on Walking”, a collaboration of his photography and poetry. He has more books in the works and has sold 54,000 of his beautiful, handmade cards featuring his photos. (Do the math.)

 

Here are some key insights on (un)retirement from the interview:

 

  • Richard: “Do whatever it takes to enjoy your life.”

 

  • Carl: “Don’t wait for tomorrow to do the things on your bucket list. People always wait for retirement, whenever that is. Do it now.”

 

  • Richard: “We get caught up in the troubles of life—the world, politics, family, etc. Life is short. Make an effort to enjoy it and be fulfilled.”

 

Richard summed up his (un)retirement in just three words: “I feel good!” He went on to say that what has become important to him now is to do something for humanity. He’s certainly found that in sharing his writing and photography with the world.

 

For the full interview, listen to I Used to be Somebody, Episode #4 with Richard Turner. For listening details go to our website!

To learn more about Richard’s work check out his website to learn more about what he's up to now.

 

Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the I Used to Be Somebody weekly blog.

Tags:    blog   interview   podcast   Richard Turner   unretirement   poetry   photography  

    Categories

    Show All (64)
    (un)retirement (0)
    (Un)Retirement (2)
    2022 (0)
    Adam Bryant (1)
    adversity (0)
    advice (0)
    ageism (1)
    Alan Newman (1)
    andy levine (1)
    andy robin (0)
    Anheuser Busch (1)
    anne da vigo (1)
    anniversary (1)
    Apidone (1)
    architectural designer (0)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger (0)
    art gallery (1)
    Artist (1)
    artist (1)
    ascenium (0)
    attorney (1)
    Audrey Hitchcock (0)
    author (8)
    baby boomer (1)
    baby boomers (0)
    baking (0)
    banking (1)
    barry pincus (1)
    bary pincus (0)
    baseball (2)
    baseball cards (0)
    basketball (1)
    beer (1)
    best-seller (1)
    bestseller (1)
    bestselling (0)
    best selling (0)
    bestselling author (0)
    Bistro (0)
    blog (2)
    Blog (6)
    blog (45)
    Blogger (0)
    Bob Franceschelli (1)
    bob tuschman (1)
    Bob Tuschman (0)
    Bob Vogel (0)
    Bob Wolfe (1)
    bonus episode (1)
    book (1)
    Bookstore Owner (0)
    boomer (2)
    bo sacks (1)
    brewing (1)
    brian smith (1)
    budget (0)
    Build-A-Bear (1)
    business (2)
    Business Owner (0)
    business tips (0)
    C-Suite (1)
    caffeine (0)
    cancer (0)
    career (4)
    Carl (4)
    carl landau (1)
    Carl Landau (3)
    Caroline Ceniza Levine (0)
    CEO (2)
    ceo (1)
    CFO (0)
    cfo (1)
    challenges (1)
    changes (0)
    charity (1)
    cheesemaker (0)
    chef (2)
    Chris Farrell (1)
    chris welles (1)
    cinde dolphin (0)
    Clark (1)
    club change (1)
    coffee (0)
    coffeehouse (0)
    collector (0)
    collegescholarship (1)
    comedian (0)
    comedy (5)
    comfort zone (3)
    community (0)
    content marketing (0)
    coors (0)
    Corky Logue (0)
    cpa (1)
    craft brewing (1)
    crazy money (1)
    cycling (0)
    Dan Blank (1)
    Dan Kennedy (0)
    Dan Rudd (1)
    dartmouth (1)
    Dat Truong (0)
    dealers choice (0)
    Debb McColloch (1)
    debb mccolloch (0)
    Deborah McColloch (0)
    denise cerrreta interview (1)
    Detroit (0)
    devon zagory (1)
    Dewey Forward (1)
    director (1)
    Doctor Who (1)
    documentary (1)
    Donald Trump (0)
    Donna (1)
    doug villhard interview (1)
    dream job (0)
    dreams (1)
    Drew Evans (0)
    Dr James Beckett (0)
    Duke (1)
    Ed Casey (1)
    editor (2)
    embracing change (1)
    entertainment (0)
    entreprener (1)
    entrepreneur (7)
    entrepreneur (1)
    Entrepreneur (1)
    entrepreneur (1)
    episodes (0)
    Europe (0)
    Event (0)
    Exec (1)
    Executive (1)
    executive (3)
    executive editor (1)
    EZ Pawn (0)
    facebook (1)
    farm to table (0)
    film (2)
    Filmmaker (0)
    finance (2)
    finances (1)
    financial advisor (0)
    financial planning (0)
    financial security (0)
    first woman (1)
    food (1)
    food network (0)
    Food Network (0)
    foundation (1)
    future (0)
    General Manager (1)
    Georgetown (0)
    giants (3)
    Giants (0)
    golf (1)
    grace (1)
    Grandma's Secret (0)
    halloffame (1)
    health (1)
    henry schulman (1)
    high times (1)
    hope (1)
    horses (1)
    Host (1)
    hotel (1)
    Hot to Retire and Not Die (1)
    housing (0)
    How To Retire and Not Die (1)
    humor (1)
    hypnotherapy (1)
    improv (1)
    Interview (5)
    interview (36)
    interview (35)
    investor (1)
    ironman (1)
    ironman competitor (1)
    Italy (1)
    I Used To Be Somebody (4)
    I Used to Be Somebody (1)
    I Used To be Somebody (1)
    Jack Gallagher (2)
    james beard award (1)
    Jed Smith (1)
    Jill Baker (0)
    jim roddy (1)
    Joan Ryan (0)
    joan ryan (0)
    job (1)
    joe pulizzi (1)
    journalism (3)
    Kerry Hannon (1)
    Landau (4)
    larana day interview (1)
    Larry David (1)
    law (1)
    legend (1)
    lessons (1)
    lgbtq (1)
    librarian (0)
    licensing (1)
    life lessons (0)
    life of freedom (0)
    local (0)
    luck (0)
    luxury (1)
    magazine (3)
    magazines (1)
    major league (0)
    marketing (1)
    Marketing (1)
    mark shaiken (1)
    Mark Shaiken (2)
    martial arts (0)
    Maxine (1)
    meditation (0)
    Melissa Davey (1)
    memoir (1)
    mental health (0)
    mentor (1)
    merchandise (1)
    Miami University (0)
    michaela oconnor abrams (0)
    michael clinton (1)
    Michela OConnor Abrams (0)
    Midtown (0)
    mike branon (1)
    mike drak (1)
    mike krukow (1)
    Mike Murphy (0)
    mini-retirement (0)
    moira mcgarvey black (1)
    mo nard (0)
    Money magazine (1)
    Mozzarella di Bufalo (0)
    multi-media giant (1)
    music (0)
    naps (0)
    naps (0)
    NBA (1)
    Neil Haley (1)
    Neil the Real Deal (1)
    new beginning (0)
    new year (0)
    Night Club (1)
    nonprofit (0)
    novel (1)
    NPR (1)
    nursing (1)
    NYT Columnist (1)
    NYU (0)
    painter (1)
    passion (2)
    passions (1)
    patrick mulvaney (0)
    patty forehand (1)
    paul ollinger (1)
    PBS (1)
    People Magazine (1)
    performer (1)
    pet (2)
    philadelphia (0)
    Pho (0)
    photography (2)
    Pickleball (4)
    pickleball (7)
    Pickleball Media (1)
    Pickleball Tour (0)
    pilot (1)
    Pinot (1)
    pivot (1)
    podcast (4)
    poetry (1)
    Political Campaign (0)
    Popcorn Shop (1)
    pottery (1)
    power nap (0)
    Princeton (1)
    pro-wrestling (1)
    professor (0)
    Professor (0)
    Pro Tips (0)
    psychotherapist (1)
    publishing (2)
    quotes (0)
    Ramini Mozzarella (0)
    rancho la puerta (1)
    ranch owner (0)
    real estate (1)
    rebellious (1)
    recap (0)
    recession (1)
    redemption (0)
    resolutions (0)
    restaurateur (0)
    retailer (1)
    retiree (0)
    retirement (7)
    retirement association (0)
    retirement plan (1)
    rhinos (1)
    Richard Eisenberg (1)
    richard turner (1)
    Richard Turner (1)
    Risk Taker (1)
    risktaker (1)
    robin pajaro (1)
    rock (1)
    sacramento (2)
    Sacramento (0)
    sacramento (1)
    san francisco (1)
    san francisco giants (1)
    scott miller (1)
    second act (8)
    second acts (0)
    September 2024 (0)
    serial entrepreneur (0)
    Silicon Valley (1)
    Sky Bergman (0)
    Small Business (0)
    small business (0)
    smart living (1)
    socal (1)
    Social (1)
    soul (0)
    sports (1)
    stand-up (2)
    Stanford (1)
    star of the week (4)
    Steve Israel (0)
    steven petrow (1)
    steve segner (1)
    success (0)
    superfan (4)
    susan stewart (1)
    task list (0)
    Tasting Tour (0)
    teaching (1)
    ted bahr interview (1)
    texas (0)
    The Pickleball Librarian (0)
    the tapas life (0)
    third-act (1)
    third act (1)
    time management (0)
    time tracking app (0)
    Tim Jordan (0)
    toastmasters (0)
    top 10 list (0)
    transformation (0)
    Travel (0)
    travel (1)
    Travel Planning (0)
    Travel Tips (0)
    Trip (0)
    try new things (1)
    Tuscany (0)
    UC Berkeley (1)
    ugg (1)
    unretired (0)
    UnRetirement (2)
    unretirement (57)
    Unretirement (5)
    unretirement (57)
    update (0)
    US Congressman (0)
    vacation (0)
    val haller (0)
    vice president (1)
    volunteer (1)
    walk on (0)
    water buffalo (0)
    website (0)
    wedding officiant (1)
    Wine (1)
    WNBA (1)
    work (3)
    working (2)
    world series (1)
    World Tour (0)
    worst jobs (1)
    writer (1)
    writing (1)
    yoga (0)
    zen (0)