He thought his walking costs were prohibitive. He was on the fast track for promotion, working in marketing and strategic planning. The money was starting to roll in, but he wasn’t happy. His drinking problem worsened and he was becoming an alcoholic. He was sick of the lifestyle. He hated the prospect that this was what he was going to do the rest of his life. After one particularly restless night, his wife asked him what was wrong. He told her he felt unbalanced and hated his work. "Quit," she suggested. He countered that he couldn’t quit. How about the car, the house - how would they pay for their things? His wife told him they could sell the house and the car. She had a job- they weren’t going to starve if he quit. Until that moment, he never realised quitting was an option. The walking costs he perceived were illusory. He vowed to keep his walking costs low in the future. He is now a venture philanthropist- his job is to create new ways to provide resources for the public good. Now, he sees life as a series of adventures and approaches it with an intensity of purpose. He began working to align his not-for-profit values with a for-profit paycheck. Very carefully, little by little, he brought his values to work. He recognised when to push and when to step back. He patiently focused on one issue at a time. He worked to ensure that his concerns matched the best interests of the company. He found a way to make his values work for his employer - Fast Co
A Mundane Comedy is Dominic Kelleher's new book, which will be published in mid 2024. The introduction is available here and further extracts will appear on this site and on social media in the coming months.