Someone Has to Do It

(Excerpt from the forthcoming book)

I was asked a question today, a simple yet an important one. This question was asked by someone not of my country or my culture, and the fact that the question presented itself on my 39th birthday made it that much more impactful. Let me cut to the chase, the question was: “What do you do for a living?”

This is an unassuming question that is asked of a lot of us on a regular basis. Today’s timing, however, made an unexpected impact. The exact wording of my answer—meaning what I actually do for a living—is not important. It was the feeling behind that answer, and his subsequent response, that got to me. On this particular day, I was on vacation in New Zealand with my wife, and we were enjoying life. We were part of a cave tour that included cold water, inner-tubes, wetsuits, and helmet lights.

It was a large Maori man who asked me the question, which made it that much more interesting. I say interesting due to our differences in culture, choice in career path, and current comfort levels within these dark caves. At the time, he was wearing the aforementioned wetsuit and headlamp. He was also guiding us through narrow stone corridors filled with naturally frigid water. I attempted to give him a quick answer and description of my job—strategy within financial services—which I am sure sounded as boring to him as it looks typed out on this page. His response to my answer was unassuming yet hard-hitting: “Well, someone has to do it.”

It struck me because many people would not consider this man as successful in his professional life, but his response indicated the opposite. As most know, not every culture shares the same “get ahead” mindset that Americans do, and this was definitely the case with my interrogator. As his response spilled from his mouth, he appeared as happy as can be. At this point, I began to think about my profession and my life that parallels it. It was as if he was making fun of my career choice—imagine that! I immediately noticed my softening hands and my mental inclination towards safety and security. I noticed my full immersion into the world of Corporate America and my lack of appetite for risk-taking. This world is a far cry from my younger days spent working and sweating in warehouses and stock rooms, not thinking at all about a 401(k), that next meeting, or an Excel spreadsheet. It made me miss my days spent in the military, doing hard and important work, getting dirty now and then, and having the freedom to travel the world as part of my duties.

I will remind the reader that this book is not about a mid-life crisis, but this particular topic sure makes it feel that way! His question cut to my core and made me reconsider the things I do on my Mondays through Fridays. It made me reconsider what is important in life. It made me want to make a larger impact than I currently am, or if not, at least enjoy myself more often. It also got me thinking about how my priorities have changed for the worse over the past four or five years. It took this damn 39 number to force me to consider this fact. I did not change these priorities on purpose, but it seems to have happened nonetheless. There was no specific point where I chose to get a big house, nice furniture, and go out to restaurants whenever I wanted. There was no specific point where I chose a position at work because it came with a pay hike. Somehow, these things happened right in front of my aging eyes. If the large Maori man knew I was writing this, he would be shaking his head and maybe even laughing a little.

If this same exchange had happened ten years ago, I would not have felt the same as I do today. Hell, my job is great and I make a lot of money. Meanwhile, he’s out there freezing his ass off leading around clueless tourists who mostly do not speak his language. I would have laughed at his comment and even been a little aggravated. I would not have seen the value that his comment offered me, or at least I would not have admitted it. I would have wondered what he was doing with his life, as he was likely right behind me in age yet far behind me in status. I would have shaken off the comment and refused to think about it again. These days, at 39, I almost wanted to thank him. Almost. These days, I know he was right in his thinking. “Someone has to do it.” That comment can hit you hard, I know it did me. It made me consider the fact that there is something else out there for me, something else I should be doing professionally that makes me as happy as he appears to be. Something I am not currently doing.

Today made me realize that sometimes we need to stop what we are doing, look around, and decide if we are happy with our choices in life. Today made me think about those choices as they relate to my career. But this lesson could be applied to anything in life. Many of us trudge through our days without questioning or critiquing ourselves. There is no good reason for that. We should choose the path, or paths, that make us happy every single day, or at least shoot for that goal. Now, I am not claiming that I am the best example of this. It is not like I am going to get home and immediately quit my job and find a career that makes me happier! But I am working my way in that direction, and sometimes that is all you can ask for. At least I am realizing—finally—that happiness and meaning are the key to a successful life. If we are not getting those things from our daily grind, we need to find alternate sources. So when you are done reading this chapter, put the book down and make a list of things you want to change today. Take the first step to fulfillment by crossing at least one thing off that list. There is no way you will regret it. I am going to go do that same thing. I am going to do it now.

-Houston Bailey