Costco co-founder still goes into the office weekly at age 89: 'To be successful, you've got to be pretty focused'

Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal is retired … for the most part.
The 89-year-old former CEO of the beloved warehouse chain stepped down from his role in 2012. But Sinegal still goes to the office some Tuesdays, a nod to the work ethic and commitment he learned from his mentor, the late retail businessman and philanthropist Sol Price.
"I think to be successful, you've got to be pretty focused," Sinegal said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on April 16. He added that, "if you can find a mentor like I did, like Sol Price, it can make a significant difference in your life."
For Sinegal, staying involved in his company is a no brainer. He dedicated a huge chunk of his life to retail, getting his start as a bagger at Price's FedMart at age 18. Sinegal worked his way up to the C-suite before launching Costco alongside businessman and investor Jeff Brotman. There, he served as president and CEO for almost 30 years.
Sinegal "always loved" working in the grocery industry and viewed his job as more of a hobby, he told The Wall Street Journal. As for work-life balance, staying busy in a role he loves, even after retirement, is the icing on the cake.
"I think there are three things that you have to worry about," he said. "Worry about your livelihood, you gotta worry about your health and you gotta worry about your family. Anything else you do is a bonus, if you're able to sneak it in there."