Daniel Pink

And it turned out that was actually I mean, again, I don't want to toot my own horn here, even though I'm about to. It's like I was actually a pretty good speechwriter. I'm sure you were.

I was actually pretty good at it. You know, I was, to my surprise, like it wasn't something I set out to do, but it's like, oh, I get this. You know, and I think that's another lesson for leapers out there is that there are certain things that we are good at and certain things that we're not. And you can get better at almost anything, but there are certain things that feel like,

I was actually pretty good at it. You know, I was, to my surprise, like it wasn't something I set out to do, but it's like, oh, I get this. You know, and I think that's another lesson for leapers out there is that there are certain things that we are good at and certain things that we're not. And you can get better at almost anything, but there are certain things that feel like,

a native language in a way. So there are other kinds of things that for me, I could learn how to do it, but I would do it in a clumsy way. And it just turned out that speech writing was something that I sort of had a feel for in the way that some people have a feel for physics, which I do not, or some people have a feel for tennis, which I do not.

a native language in a way. So there are other kinds of things that for me, I could learn how to do it, but I would do it in a clumsy way. And it just turned out that speech writing was something that I sort of had a feel for in the way that some people have a feel for physics, which I do not, or some people have a feel for tennis, which I do not.

Basically what happened was this, is that I really liked the people I worked with. And I was very fortunate, especially later in when I was working in politics, to work for big bosses who were good. So I worked for the then Labor Secretary Robert Reich. I worked for Vice President Gore. Those are two good guys. And those are two good people to work for. You know, that was not it at all.

Basically what happened was this, is that I really liked the people I worked with. And I was very fortunate, especially later in when I was working in politics, to work for big bosses who were good. So I worked for the then Labor Secretary Robert Reich. I worked for Vice President Gore. Those are two good guys. And those are two good people to work for. You know, that was not it at all.

And actually, my colleagues were outstanding. I really liked my colleagues. What I didn't like were some other things. Number one was that I did get a sense that politics—this is a long time ago now— that it was all about tactical short-term advantage.

And actually, my colleagues were outstanding. I really liked my colleagues. What I didn't like were some other things. Number one was that I did get a sense that politics—this is a long time ago now— that it was all about tactical short-term advantage.

You know, it's sort of like a doctor who goes in and says, I became a doctor to take care of people and she spends all of her life dealing with like electronic medical records and insurance paperwork. You know what I mean? It was sort of analogous to that. It's like, oh my gosh, all we're doing here is we're seeing about this far out, we're seeing one news cycle out

You know, it's sort of like a doctor who goes in and says, I became a doctor to take care of people and she spends all of her life dealing with like electronic medical records and insurance paperwork. You know what I mean? It was sort of analogous to that. It's like, oh my gosh, all we're doing here is we're seeing about this far out, we're seeing one news cycle out

And there isn't really a great strategy or vision because of the nature of the system. So that was one thing that really was kind of discouraging. The second thing that was discouraging, not discouraging, but the second thing was sort of a discovering about oneself is that I don't like having a boss. My bosses were okay. They were not like, they were good people.

And there isn't really a great strategy or vision because of the nature of the system. So that was one thing that really was kind of discouraging. The second thing that was discouraging, not discouraging, but the second thing was sort of a discovering about oneself is that I don't like having a boss. My bosses were okay. They were not like, they were good people.

I didn't have any, you know, generally, but it's like, I don't want someone telling me what I was going to work on and what I was not going to work on. I don't want to do that. Another thing is that I had, especially true because when I was working for the VP, my wife and I had our first kid and that changed my life.

I didn't have any, you know, generally, but it's like, I don't want someone telling me what I was going to work on and what I was not going to work on. I don't want to do that. Another thing is that I had, especially true because when I was working for the VP, my wife and I had our first kid and that changed my life.

And so it was like, wait a second, I'm like killing myself for this short-term thing and not having any autonomy. And I don't get to see my little girl. I don't like this. And then even worse is that I would look sort of

And so it was like, wait a second, I'm like killing myself for this short-term thing and not having any autonomy. And I don't get to see my little girl. I don't like this. And then even worse is that I would look sort of

prospectively and say what is the me 10 years from now going to do if he stays on this trajectory and i was like oh my god i don't want to do that that was in some ways a come to jesus moment and i quit now again it's not i don't want to sound like too much of a renegade because My wife kept her job. She kept her health insurance.

prospectively and say what is the me 10 years from now going to do if he stays on this trajectory and i was like oh my god i don't want to do that that was in some ways a come to jesus moment and i quit now again it's not i don't want to sound like too much of a renegade because My wife kept her job. She kept her health insurance.

We had a plan because I wasn't bringing in like that, that much money. We had a plan and the plan was that we'll try it for, I wanted to go out and do my own writing and we'll go out and try it for a couple of years and see if it works. And if it didn't work, I'd go back and get a job. But she's not giving up her job. She's not giving up her health insurance.