Notes From the Road #7 - On Chatty Cab Drivers
SteveQuick dispatch from sunny Las Vegas where I am attending and presenting at the Oracle HR User's Group, (OHUG), annual conference.
On the cab ride in from the airport yesterday I was either lucky or unfortunate, (depending on your point of view), to have a classic chatty cab driver. The kind of guy not only interested in sharing a few choice nuggets about his city, fun things that might be happening in town, the most recent and noteworthy local news items, and whatever else is on his mind. The chatty cab driver scenario usually ends badly, particularly if you've been traveling all day and just are not in the mood for small talk.
Yesterday my cab driver, a man of about 55 or so years old I'd guess, somehow, (I am really not sure what set him off, I only said something incredibly mundane and boring like, 'Wow, kind of windy today'), got set off on a little monologue about the value of hard work, the need for more people to suck it up and just quit complaining, and simply find something, anything valuable and positive to do with their time, and just do it and shut the hell up.
I believe his exact, (or near enough), quote on the topic was something like -
People need to drop the ideology that you have to get your dream job. There's no such thing. And even when you think you have it, in 2 years you'll just want to chase some other dream. Look at me, you think I dreamed about driving a cab in the desert? You do what you have to do.
It was an interesting and realistic take and whether or not you agree with the folks (mostly life coaches, I think), that proscribe chasing your dreams or doing the work that you are passionate about, every time you talk to a real working person about their careers and their choices it always provides some great perspective.
You think I dreamed about driving a cab in the desert?
No, I don't think you probably did. Probably hardly anyone does. But as you said, Mr. I-did-not-catch-your-name Cab Driver, and as you rightly conclude, sometimes, maybe more than you hoped for, you do what you have to do.
And honestly, lots and lots of people doing what they have to do make life a heck of a lot easier for those of us who feel like chasing (often elusive) dreams. So thanks for the ride and the conversation.
Back to Vegas. I have the Heat minus 3.5 tonight.
And Matt 'akaBruno' Stollak likes Michigan State to win the Big 10 this Fall.
Reader Comments (2)
His quote reminds me of Don Draper's quote in the penultimate episode of "Mad Men" this season: "Happiness is that moment before you need more happiness."
Chatty cab drivers in Vegas is why I always rent a car. Usually just as cheap as cabs, parking is free, and you don't have to wait in the cab line in 105 degree weather.
And, to clarify, I like MSU to win the Big Ten when the line is +500 to +700, not straight up.
Matt - you should have bit at MSU to be the BCS Champs at 40/1