Ruminations on measuring your success and answering Bill Bryant’s questions.

Aweh dearly beloved fellow ruminants & groupies

To start my ruminations for 2024 I write this week’s blog overlooking the ocean on a sunny day and enjoying a cool sea breeze. Across the table sits Nerine, engrossed in her work, heralding what promises to be a bustling year ahead. It could not be more perfect. On Sunday we will return home, and I will start working again. Why?

I am in the final laps of my career, such as it is. Why not retire? This week I have received inspiration from two former colleagues from my 30-year corporate career. The first is Bill Bryant, who provided a thoughtful post at the end of his corporate career. A consistent theme of my blog is attempting to ruminate on existential questions and Bill posed two fantastic questions for those reaching the end of their careers. Was it worth it and did any of it matter? For those of you still working you can change the questions to the present tense.

The second is Mark Lawrence who is retired and living in Mauritius, after a long corporate career. He sent me the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts cartoon. Worth reading. Despite Mark and Bill living in different corners of the world, modern technology and social media have facilitated our continued connection. I hold in high regard those who stimulate my thoughts, and Bill and Mark have consistently accomplished that. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to them.

How does one measure the success of a career? One might simply gauge it by the wealth amassed. By this criterion, Elon Musk currently reigns supreme. As part of my holiday reading, I delved into his recent biography, and his accomplishments are undeniably remarkable. But how does one compare Einstein and Musk? Einstein didn’t accumulate billions. Who then had the more triumphant career? Who achieved more? Can such comparisons even be made? Within a corporate trajectory, one might measure progress by climbing the corporate ladder, assuming that the most capable individuals ascend to the top. Is this assumption accurate? Does attaining a prominent position signify success? Is fame a yardstick for success? What about the unsung, underpaid nurse dedicating her life to tending to the sick?

Nobody else can measure the success of your career for you. Answer Bill’s questions for yourself. Now, a personal take on these questions. Was my career worthwhile? In hindsight, numerous facets of my career held little value. However, on the whole, it was indeed worthwhile. Did any of the work I undertook matter? A substantial portion did not, particularly in the latter phase where we incessantly crafted unattainable strategies only to discard them for new, equally unrealistic ones. Nevertheless, much of it did hold significance, and we did accomplish a great deal.

But does it ultimately boil down to achievements?  What made my career worthwhile was not the things we achieved or the highest-paid senior executives but those who cared for me, helped me, and were there for me. They facilitated my personal growth. This encompassed some of my managers, though not all. I’d like to believe that I reciprocated, assisting colleagues along the way. These aspects mattered and continue to do so. If I can provoke contemplation in students, even if occasionally annoying them, that too holds value. If, in turn, they make me think, that’s a bonus.

While it is important to try and end your career with enough money to sustain you for the rest of your days it is the friendships and networks you create in a working career that provide real meaning long after titles and achievements are forgotten. This was not always immediately obvious to me when I was younger.

These friendships and networks can all evaporate like the morning mist when you exit the stage. I have several close friends from my career, and they are worth their weight in gold. I try to nurture them. But what about the evaporation of my larger network as I fade into obscurity?  One way to avoid this is to continue to piss into the wind and scream into the abyss to get attention. Hence, I blog. To blog is to be.  A bit like a toddler having a tantrum in a public place if you will. Guaranteed to draw attention to yourself. Please pay attention to me. I will leave it to you to judge whether that is the sort of attention you want.

The kinder and wiser amongst you reach out to me as I rage about how meaningless it all is and that provides meaning. Your family, friends, and colleagues provide all the meaning you need. They make it worth it and make it matter. Bill, here are my answers to your thoughtful questions.

I want to express my gratitude for all the ideas and comments received. I genuinely appreciate them, and please continue to share your thoughts.

Regards

Bruce