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The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
Recently, I took off a weekend to surprise a high school buddy on his 50th birthday celebration in Florida. His sister and wife had contacted me through Facebook to suggest the idea. I hadn’t seen him since he moved to Cape Coral, Florida in 1982. Still, we were close friends throughout high school and for a couple years of college.
As we sat at a lounge sipping mint mojitos and overlooking Fort Myers beach, we began catching up on our lives. After talking high school, college and family, and recalling many stories and the ensuing belly laughs they evoked, we finally made our way onto the topic of work.
He asked what I did in my job.
I told him about working in human resources for a stable company - - one that was very fiscally responsible - - and how I was involved in a major project of hiring and training employees for the start up of a new manufacturing plant. I added that at corporate, my job was filled with many, varied projects and that while these were intrinsically interesting to me, everything added together kept me almost too busy at times.
He said that sounded interesting and then asked if I were involved in firing people.
“Sometimes,” I said.
His response, slowed by a pensive sip on the rum drink, was simple…
“I never took you for a corporate guy.”
“I’m not.” I said all too quickly.
The answer didn’t surprise me, but the quickness of my reply did.
We both took a sip on our drinks then and I wondered if I had turned into the man in the gray flannel suit.
How about you? Do you ever feel like the guy or gal in the gray flannel suit, where the pursuit of conformity and safety supersede your need to be an individual? If so, how did you cope?
Do you ever have those days of ennui when your thoughts are lost in the future or trapped in the past, instead of being alive in the present?
Similar to the movie's resolution with Gregory Peck, I have accepted the responsibility that goes with family and finances; I have accepted my profession. Still, I wonder what might have been if my choices had been different.
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19 September 2009
at 5:45 a.m.
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RoeDapple (Anonymous) says…
I have 2 suits, my 'fat' suit and my 'not as fat' suit. Don't like to wear them, if they bury me in one I'll find a way out of it. I have been fired and I have done the firing.
I would rather be fired……
;-)
19 September 2009
at 6:51 a.m.
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Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…
David,
Another thoughtful blog. It seems like you are very “suited” for your job. It is definitely possible to remain yourself and bring your unique qualities into your job. Clearly, both your sense of humor and honor have to be an asset in your job.
19 September 2009
at 7:18 a.m.
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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…
You are definitely a “corporate guy” but you can't fault yourself for keeping stability in your life, your family and your responsibility to them. Just don't mid-life crisis and try to change something that ain't broke.
19 September 2009
at 12:47 p.m.
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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Well, it's probably apparent to all that I conform more than most…
yet, still I find myself asking [myself] … why a big suit…?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P6Pi1…
19 September 2009
at 3:59 p.m.
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justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…
I am certain you fire people in such a manner that they think they have been promoted to a different job for another company. You seem to have that soft spoken, kindly twinkle in your eye and the ability to “create” the illusion that they are coming out ahead.
It can be scary sometimes realizing whom and what we have turned into over time. Life tasks aren't always pleasant, but as long as underlying kindness and concern are present, it sends a different message.