I wanted to share some bittersweet news to our community. @CarlHolmes, long-time moderator, very active contributor, and familiar face to so many of you, has officially embraced full retirement and stepped away from the Knack world.
For those who’ve benefited from Carl’s expertise over the years - whether through this forum, his YouTube channel (all 618 glorious subscribers’ worth!), or his legendary “riding shotgun” appearances alongside @Ranasha in her webinars, you can probably guess at the enormous positive impact he’s made. Carl genuinely loves sharing knowledge and helping people solve problems. His YouTube videos will remain available as a lasting resource for the Knack community.
Carl’s nearly ten years in Knack development were, in his words, “life-changing.” He worked with people from all over the world, formed genuine friendships other Knack partners, customers, and here at Knack internally, and even flew out from the UK to Kansas in 2023 to meet fellow expert @andyoneil in person. The fact that many of his clients he calls true friends is not surprising to me at all.
As he puts it: “It’s been a wild ride. I’m sad it’s finished, but glad it’s over!” He’s now fully focused on what he dubs Life 2.0: walking, cycling, motorcycling, spending time with family and friends, and booking upcoming adventures in foreign lands.
@CarlHolmes, thank you for everything you’ve contributed to the Knack community. Your expertise, your patience, your humor, and your genuine care for helping others succeed have left a lasting mark. We’ll miss seeing you around as much in the forums, but we’re all so thrilled you’re getting to enjoy the retirement you’ve earned.
@Kara - thank you for your very kind words and farewell tribute. I wish everyone who uses and works at or with Knack every success for the future. Thank you for all the amazing opportunities that Knack gave me during the last chapter of my working career.
Forty two years in the workplace saw a lot of changes. My first full time job in 1984 was selling secondhand manual typewriters. Things came a long way in four decades.
On to my next chapter as I start the youth of my senior years.
Thank you @StephenChapman - hopefully I’ll get down under one day.
Please carry on with your YouTube content. You’re far more talented and skilled with Knack than I could have ever been. I’m always thrilled to see you so generously sharing your knowledge and content.
Congratulations @CarlHolmes . I wish you all the best in your next chapter. I really enjoyed our check-ins once or twice a year, and have always learned so much from you. Please take care and keep in touch. I believe there is a need in the community for continuing education on Knack, hacks, and common use cases. It would be great to see one or more creators carry the torch
A huge THANK YOU, Carl! I greatly appreciate your contributions to the Knack world. It has inspired me to continue to grow in my experiences with Knack. You’re Awesome! Enjoy your retirement. May God bless you and your family!
Just wanted to say thanks for everything my friend! All those tutorial videos you put out there — that generosity is what got me inspired to start making my own. And let’s not forget the dozens of KTL tutorials you did. Honestly, that’s when the KTL really started gaining traction, and it’s all because of you.
Go enjoy those “go-go” years and everything that comes after. And hey, the invitation to globe-trot over here in Montreal still stands — you’re welcome any time.
Thank you my good friend @NormandDefayette_CortexRD - I’m thrilled to hear that my efforts helped to promote the amazing work that you have put into the KTL.
I appreciate the invitation - it would be great to meet in real life.
Thank you Carl, for your YouTube videos! I’m in charge of setting up and maintaining our company’s inventory and shipping system, and your videos have been extremely helpful for a novice like me. Thanks again, and I wish you all the best in retirement!
Thank you @CarlHolmes for all the help you have given us over the years, I still keep your youtube videos on speeddial to remind me of the how to’s. Sad to see there will be no more to come but glad you can now chill and enjoy life to the fullest.
I left IT 20+ years ago and moved into Aviation. Low and behold someone enticed me into doing a small project in my spare time and I was hooked all over again.
Enjoy your time off Carl
To quote Terminator I predict - “I’ll (you’ll) be back”
After working for 41 years, I have no intention to return to paid work. I plan to use my remaining “healthy” years travelling and exploring. My plan was always to stop transacting my time for money once I managed to hit financial independence.
For me now, carrying on working for a living is counterproductive. I will be trading healthy years for money that I may never get to spend.
I always had a plan to stop working as soon as I had “enough” so I can exit the hamster wheel and not have to earn a wage to live my best life.
Great goals, and I really hope that works out well for you. Among my cohort of retired friends, and in my own case, the thing to watch out for is struggling with a niggling feeling of irrelevance that can arise after a lifetime of always being needed for something by someone. Keep active and pursue interests and hopefully that will pass you by. Reach out if you are ever in Melbourne … I probably owe you a few beers along the way.
Hey everyone,
