X-ecutive

Life: The state of "success".

Before I get to the event that changed everything, it is prudent that the state of my life before the event is understood. Success is an interesting and often nebulous term that is interpreted in so many ways. I am 40 years old. I was one of a lucky few who, coming out of college, got a job with a fast growing company and was able to make the most of it. I stayed with this company for over 16 years and progressed from a Management Trainee to become a Senior Vice President reporting to the President of the worldwide organization. This is a position held by only a handful individuals in the company of more than 200,000 employees. I fully intended to retire in this company as a one career one company loyalist. Not many of those around these days. Indeed in our organization there were only two people that had been there as long as I. Don't get me wrong, it was not tenure that brought position elevation. This is a truly pay for performance company. Tenure was really a result of performance and fit. Fit, is for me a measure of success. This company fit. When I joined the organization there were only about 150 retail locations, mostly in the southeast, Texas and California. During the growth phases, my wife and I moved a great deal in opening and operating new areas. At the time I finally gave in and accepted a position at the worldwide headquarters we had moved 23 times with the company. Many said that was worse than the military but I always said I had never been forced to move and really it was the acceptance of opportunity and the desire to see and experience new areas that kept us moving. When I arrived at headquarters and assumed the role of SVP of Worldwide Development, we had almost 8000 locations in over 23 countries. I was 35 at the time. I loved my job, at 40 I had a wonderful and beautiful wife of 20 years, two children (a boy and a girl) who are pure blessings, a great house (with 5 garages which were all full), several collector cars including the one I always wanted a (71 Jaguar XKE V-12 in excellent condition), several other exotic cars, money in the bank, a salary that was, well let's just say I didn't have to worry about the bills which, in the lifestyle we had grown accustom to, were considerable. My position took me all over the world for business and pleasure. And I was happy. Genuinely happy. So, by most measures I had reached "success", right? Many thought so, heck I, myself, thought so.
Then I went to work one day and wow, it was a life changing event. For the better!

posted by Unknown @ 9:50 AM