Theo-bromide
Well, the Red Sox have failed to lock up Theo Epstein and now he's flying away. There are all sorts of angles on this. The 'shoulda-coulda-woulda' angle. The 'what did we do wrong angle'. The 'who's to blame angle'. The 'how will life go on' angle. I'm sure Red Sox Nation will survive, and no, this is not the start of another curse. But let's take this story in another direction. All the background you need is in Bob Ryan's article in this morning's Boston Globe.
Here's my question. Why is it assumed that there must have been some way for management to keep Theo? Why is Bob looking for a deeper answer than 'he couldn't put his heart and soul into it' anymore?
We live in a such a consumer-driven culture that the value of a man is often measured by what he buys or what he earns. Our careers become our purpose. What about the person behind the career. Does he count? Yeah, in this particular case we're all captivated by Theo's incredible accomplishments for the Sox and the potential for more. But he doesn't owe us any more (not even an explanation).
Obviously there are as many answers to the work/life balance as there are people. Just yesterday I was involved in a discussion comparing people who make mega-bucks with the average Joe. What motivates someone making 25 or 50 million a year to keep on going, when us grunts would gladly take a 4 or 5 million dollar nest egg and never set foot in a job again? Certainly, different people have different motivations, and many would say I don't have that 5 million dollar nest egg exactly because I'm not the guy who would maintain a multi-million dollar career.
Maybe, just maybe, Theo is leaving for the simple reason that he doesn't want to do this anymore. I have no idea. What burns me is how quick we are to assume otherwise. What does it say about the rest of us that we can't fathom a person who places anything else above career or money? A celebrity leaves the limelight to take care of her kids. A CEO retires in his 50's to travel the world or take up painting. Why does this shock us?
Don't forget, Nobody lies on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at the office.
Here's my question. Why is it assumed that there must have been some way for management to keep Theo? Why is Bob looking for a deeper answer than 'he couldn't put his heart and soul into it' anymore?
We live in a such a consumer-driven culture that the value of a man is often measured by what he buys or what he earns. Our careers become our purpose. What about the person behind the career. Does he count? Yeah, in this particular case we're all captivated by Theo's incredible accomplishments for the Sox and the potential for more. But he doesn't owe us any more (not even an explanation).
Obviously there are as many answers to the work/life balance as there are people. Just yesterday I was involved in a discussion comparing people who make mega-bucks with the average Joe. What motivates someone making 25 or 50 million a year to keep on going, when us grunts would gladly take a 4 or 5 million dollar nest egg and never set foot in a job again? Certainly, different people have different motivations, and many would say I don't have that 5 million dollar nest egg exactly because I'm not the guy who would maintain a multi-million dollar career.
Maybe, just maybe, Theo is leaving for the simple reason that he doesn't want to do this anymore. I have no idea. What burns me is how quick we are to assume otherwise. What does it say about the rest of us that we can't fathom a person who places anything else above career or money? A celebrity leaves the limelight to take care of her kids. A CEO retires in his 50's to travel the world or take up painting. Why does this shock us?
Don't forget, Nobody lies on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at the office.
posted by RoverDaddy @ 6:10 AM
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