When I left the corporate world to strike it out on my own as a consultant,I read articles on what I should do to succeed. Of course I was worried that I might not make enough to pay the bills without the security of a regular income. Until I read an article about former corporate executives who chose to live...rather than make a living!
The one that stuck in my mind was about the former Vice-President who decided to just "pick his battles" after he left a high paying job. He could have accepted more lucrative offers from companies who were after his talent, but he chose to spend more time with his family and just maintain a few clients as a consultant.
When I was at Jollibee, I always relished doing the "big project" that would get my adrenaline going, and would subsequently put my name on the map, so to speak. But now, as a consultant I notice I'm not doing many of these big things anymore. In fact, when I look back at my 8 years with this turnaround company,my contribution has been focused on" little things." Specifically, I've been building new friendhsips and helping people out in little ways.
Maybe that was the reason I left Jollibee when I did. It was to eventually become a support to people who would need my friendship, and help see them through their darkest moments.
These acts of spending time listening to someone vent, may not be as big as launching a new system or project, but in my books, these "small "great things will be among those things that I will treasure most in my life.
