An amazing day
Monday, January 29, 2007 at 12:16PM Spent it running a three-hour session with Steve that involved a host of senior execs from one of the world's biggest defense contractors.
To get the feedback I got today regarding my two books and how they've influenced the strategic choices of this company over the past two years (I spoke at a conclave of their top 500 global execs a couple years back) is really stunning. I've never felt greater satisfaction from my career, because I know this corporation's choices will influence the entire defense-industrial complex's future, fueling our evolution toward a SysAdmin function that's more civilian than uniform, more USG than DOD, more ROW than USA, and more private-sector shaped and funded than public-sector driven.
A lot of people who don't know this business want to measure the vision's effectiveness and impact based solely on the operational experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. What they fail to realize is that change happens only under extreme duress and typically as slowly as possible. There is the institutional force and the operating force, and if you want to enable revolutionary change, you focus on the institutional force, not the operational force. The defense industrial leaders fall into the institutional category as well, which is why I spend so much time with them (a fascinating grind).
Not trying to be coy here, I just need to be discrete given the client relationship (Steve and I aren't here for free). It was just a big lift for me when I could use one, something that will sustain me for a very long time, because I realize what an incredible privilege it is to get to interact with people on this level. I've worked very hard for about two decades to position myself for these moments, so when I get that sort of highly focused, and highly positive feedback, it's just very energizing.
I take about 300-350 flights a year. I'm dropping out of the sky seemingly every afternoon. I sleep alone in strange rooms most nights, and expect my wife to raise 4 kids. I don't do it for the money, because I could make so much more while never leaving the house, I'd just write partisan crap that energized true believers (hell, I could write it well for both sides; it's not particularly hard to do if you write cleverly).
I do this because I really believe in it. This is exactly what I dreamed of doing back when I was a kid, growing up in Boscobel, with so much time on my hands I was able to spends countless hours imagining why I was put on this earth and how I was determined not to disappoint anyone involved with that decision. This is my priesthood--a lifelong commitment to goals I consider supreme, a true expression of my faith. I ask my kids and my wife to put up with that because I consider the sum of our sacrifices to be both profound and marginal in the grand scheme of things. After all, I do come home, I do see them all, they all thrive and lead fulfilling lives, and I've had the joy of knowing them all over the years as they know me.
A lotta other people sacrifice much more in this process. People from all nations and all religions and all backgrounds and all persuasions. I lead a life I value and love, so I do not consider their sacrifices to be in vain. I just try to honor them the best way I can.
And like everyone else, I need pats on the back. The virtual ones here in the blog and in emails are neat, but tangible evidence is better.
I got some today--of the sort that's big and lasting and real. It's the kind of feedback that insulates you from the criticism of others.
And it feels very good.
Reader Comments (3)
Tom - that was powerful. I worked as a partisan hack for years.
Can't stand it. Men like you will shape the world for the better.
You and your family SHOULD know that.