Thinking Big

Seth Godin (by way of Jennifer Rice ) writes in a recent article about the difference between a seminar for local CPA's and one for high-powered banking executives: "The snacks didn't seem as good. The booklets weren't that interesting either, apparently. But what occurred to me is that the folks in the second room were just as smart and just as talented as the execs in the first room....it's sad to see someone choosing to be stuck."

Now, I know that Seth meant this as an inspirational message to try to achieve your dreams, and he acknowledges that "not everyone should be a banking executive," but this really rubbed me the wrong way.

Let's take a closer look at the banking execs in the first room. Odds are, most of them got where they are through a combination of obsessively long work hours, and political maneuvering which would put Machiavelli to shame. Many of them probably wish they could spend more time with their kids, but they don't dare, because they know that the shark-tank of corporate politics doesn't tolerate even the smallest sign of weakness.

Fundamentally, as long as the executive-type jobs are seen as more desirable than the CPA-type jobs, the executive jobs will mainly go to the most ruthless, the most focused (on work) people. That's because the world needs at least a hundred CPA-types for every executive-type.

Now, the people at the CPA seminar probably had problems of their own. But my point is, simply because you're not a high-powered executive doesn't mean that you are "choosing" to be "stuck."

You may simply not want to be the person you would have to become in order to get that high-powered job. There are, after all, many things in life more important than "winning" the best job. Like kids. And your marriage. And making the most of this limited time we have on this planet.

Several years ago, during the dot-com crash, the investment bank I worked for was acquired by a much larger bank which didn't give a [expletive] about us. I faced a threefold choice at the time: I could either try to continue my successful career as a stock analyst at the new company, in the face of inevitable layoffs and fierce competition for the remaining jobs; I could slack off for a couple of years until the company bought out my lucrative contract and laid me off; or I could quit and do something else.

The first and second options required me to become someone I didn't want to be. So I chose the third option, even though it was by far the least financially attractive option. I spent six months just being Dad, then started a company where I would have the chance to be successful on my own terms rather than someone else's. That is a choice I never regretted.

The lesson is: Just because it looks like the banking executives are having more fun, don't assume that you want to be them. I know a lot of high powered executives who would rather be in my shoes: scrambling for every dollar of revenue but taking life on their own terms.