ABSTRACT
We, the people … So far, in my own personal “walk of work,” I’ve encountered three careers throughout the past 40 years. The first one was focused in academia with my involvement in mathematics and computer science. The second, in corporate America, beginning as a software development analyst and ending as an executive coach. And the third, my current occupation, as a consultant, concentrating on the areas of leadership and strategy, and also performance improvement. As I came to the end of each of the first two eras, my personal motivation and focus had shifted, and I realized that it was time for a change and even a transformation. However, just like Dr. Deming cited, motivation, self-esteem, dignity, curiosity to learn and joy in learning played a critical role in what I was doing, what I was pursuing, and what I wanted to do next. Over time, I’ve discovered that many of my friends, colleagues, and collaborators share these attributes, and when their work life experienced a shift in motivation and enthusiasm, they sought out new occupations and professions that fulfilled these aspects in their lives (Figure 9.1).
