 There’s a big difference between working in a job and enjoying working in a job. For so many years I subscribed to the age-old adage that you must “get a good secure paying job with good benefits” and then after 30 years of work retire and then do the things you love. In 2009 I had enough of that! I had the epitome of that sought after career government job with all the benefits, retirement and security one would ever want. But after 18 years it became apparent that this was no fun. I was at the top of my position, pay grade with nothing but green grass in front of me until retirement. [....]  No more looking for another job, job security and a short commute to work in my home town. Life was good!
But I could not stand it or the thought of having to work another 15 years to be “free”. I was 40 years old and the government system would allow for retirement at 55 years. Good gig if you can get it right? The problem is that for 18 years I had:
“Customer Service”, “Total Quality Management” and “Mission Statements” were thrown around regularly but never really believed in let alone applied! There was one exception when “customer service” did apply. This was typically when things got “political”. See one of the great things about working for the government, is that everyone is supposed to be treat the same and equally. No one is supposed to be given special treatment or special consideration as the government is supposed to remain neutral. During my 18 years their were plenty of times that elected officials, department heads and other projects were made a “priority” because it was “important for the community”. Non-the less, I found myself at odds with not only wanting to help these priority projects, but why aren’t ALL projects made priority projects? Why can’t local government expedite ALL projects, cut red tape and let the free market prosper? I loved being one of those problem solvers, that just “got shit done” so that the people and businesses could go on and prosper! Red tape for the sake of red tape was meaningless and a waste of time. Early in my 18-year career I advanced quickly due to these attributes, but as time went on and climbed the retched ladder of bureaucrats, I learned quick that I was really just an entrepreneur stuck in a bureaucracy. I really loved the free market, the ability to freely engage with others to solve problems, to do the right thing and prosper! In Rabbi Daniel Lapin’s book, Thou Shall Prosper, he explains how products and services are beneficial for both parties in a transaction. This creates a win-win and the market rewards this through “certificates of appreciation” as he calls them or what you and I know them as.........$dollars$. With a bureaucracy, it’s just take take take, stall stall stall! Bureaucracy is found everywhere from local, state and federal governments to corporate America. The best companies, brands, and organizations are those that have the foundational spirit of the entrepreneur. They get shit done and never allow an entrepreneur to be stuck in a bureaucracy…….and that’s why I got the hell out of there. How about you? Are you stuck in a bureaucratic hell hole? Do you dred going to work each day because you’re not sure what fires, inept staff and other unimportant issues you’re going to have to deal with? Let me know, I would be happy to share with you how I was able to leave this so called "security" and start my own consulting businesses, be freer and more secure than I ever was in a bloated bureaucracy. Leave your comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts.
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Paul Klein
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