So what's the saying....no good deeds ever go unpunished, or something like that? Maybe that's not the perfect analogy for my current situation, but it's close. For the last few years I've tried to do a good job with what the company has asked me to do, while also working to get my situation situated to be able to take a first retirement or extended leave of absence, or whatever taking a few years off from The Job might be called. And I was close. A few things left to tidy up and close out, a few months at the most to get to the point where I could leave with a clear conscience, and then comes a blue sky curve ball from the boss that has really left me wondering about what to do next. New assignment, more responsibility, a big raise, and a move to Ft. Lauderdale vs. packing some food into the boat and heading out to chase the horizon.
Of course, when the boss asked me to take on the assignment I said OK....that's kind of my nature, I guess, hard to say no when the boss asks for help.
The fact that the company has the confidence in my abilities to trust me with running an office is quite flattering, and the challenge of moving from managing projects to being in charge of the strategic direction of the office is actually pretty intriguing to me the more I think about it. This is the kind of thing people in my position work their entire career to have the opportunity to do, so conventional wisdom is I'd be Crazy to say no. Not that I know anything about Crazy.
Anyway, after hearing the news, one of the guys in the office told me the new organization of the office leadership reminded him of Star Wars......we have the young, energetic project exec that has the Luke Skywalker charm and raw potential, we have the intrepid business development manager with a Hans Solo kind of swagger, and we have me, the Obi-Wan Kenobi character who brings the wisdom and knowledge that will help the others realize their true potential and find their destinies.
So in other words, I'm the old guy.
That hurts.
Now, I'm not a huge Star Wars fan, but there is a quote from one of the movies that I do remember very clearly, and that's when Obi-Wan says to Han Solo "Who's the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him"
Guess we'll see how things play out, huh?
