During the holidays, thoughts about meaning and purpose abound. As such, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share this story of fulfillment with you.
Many moons ago, I was a young pup running my own company in the private sector. By all accounts, I was living the dream — self-employed, making good money, working from home in the bustling city of Atlanta and calling the shots.
It sounds great, right? It was. But two things happened.
- I stroked my first quarterly tax payment to the government. It was a large check, and all I could think was “What in the **** did the government do to earn this?” I was irritated. Very irritated. Kind of like the bear that got poked.
- I realized I wasn’t fulfilled. I was working my tail off, but I wasn’t sure why. If I worked harder, I could make a few more bucks. But so what? That would just mean more to give to the government! My interest in liberty had steadily grown since college, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe I should be doing something about it.
So, I packed my bags, sold my house and my company, and moved to Washington, DC, to change the world. Some people said I was crazy, but I didn’t blink. In retrospect, it was the most naive, cliché, and insanely idealistic decision I ever made.
And also the best one.
Now, years later, I am working to advance liberty and couldn’t be happier. Sure, I still pay the government more than it deserves, but I am working with organizations every day that are fighting that and other government abuses and largess. I’m not driving a Range Rover, but the money is still plenty good. And every night when my head hits the pillow, I know that I’ve done work that makes the country a freer, more prosperous place. You can’t put a dollar figure on fulfillment.
For those of you working in the liberty movement, let this holiday season be a reminder that we have been given the gift of fulfillment. Sure, our jobs exhausting, occasionally frustrating, and far from perfect. But we are incredibly fortunate to have jobs we enjoy that are making a difference. Let’s not take this gift for granted.
For those of you toiling away in the private sector itching to advance liberty, please know there is room for you here! You may have to adapt your existing skillset or relocate for the right job, but it can happen. In fact, more than 70% of the individuals we place come from outside the free-market nonprofit sector. You might be the next one!
And for those of you who know someone who loves liberty but is currently making widgets for a living, please let that person know there’s a better way! Forward this email and suggest he reach out to us. What better gift to give this season than the gift of fulfillment?
As I like to say, would you rather work for liberty or work for Lumbergh? (And if you don’t know who Lumbergh is, drop everything you’re doing and watch Office Space, a classic workplace comedy circa 1999.)
