Daniel Pink

And one of the things that I intuited, but which I now specifically instruct my own kids and others, is that when somebody asks you that question, the answer is yes. whether you can do it or not, the answer is yes. And then you freaking figure it out. So I was at intuitive sense that the answer to that question should be yes. And I said, yes. And I wrote a speech. It was probably okay.

And one of the things that I intuited, but which I now specifically instruct my own kids and others, is that when somebody asks you that question, the answer is yes. whether you can do it or not, the answer is yes. And then you freaking figure it out. So I was at intuitive sense that the answer to that question should be yes. And I said, yes. And I wrote a speech. It was probably okay.

And then they said, can you do it again? And I was like, yeah. Can you do it again? Yeah. And suddenly that was my job. And because, again, it's low paid and fast movie. So I started doing that. And then, you know, there aren't that many people who write speeches. And so when there's turnover, there's a limited supply of people who are eligible for that kind of job.

And then they said, can you do it again? And I was like, yeah. Can you do it again? Yeah. And suddenly that was my job. And because, again, it's low paid and fast movie. So I started doing that. And then, you know, there aren't that many people who write speeches. And so when there's turnover, there's a limited supply of people who are eligible for that kind of job.

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.

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.