On a hot August day in a railyard outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, there was a crew of eight men working the rails with pick axes and shovels.

Seven of the men were in their 20s, while Charlie was in his 60s.

They were all working hard, sweating up a storm.

Just before noon, a limousine drove up, and everybody knew who it was.

Bill McClanahan, the president of the railroad company.

McClanahan stuck his head out of the window and watched the work crew, then he shouted, “Hey Charlie! Is that you?”

“Sure is, Bill!” Charlie shouted back.

“Hey Charlie, come over here!” said Bill. “I’ll take you out to lunch.”

Of course, Charlie was proud to be singled out by the president.

He brushed off a bit of the soot and the grime, hurried off to the limo, and got in.

The limo drove off and rest of the crew were just standing there stunned. Dumbfounded.

After lunch, the limo brought Charlie back.

And when he returned, the other guys on the crew were asked, “How do you know Mr. McClanahan, the president of the company?”

Charlie boasted that he and Bill McClanahan had known each other for years.

“As a matter of fact,” said Charlie, “Bill and I started working for this very same company on the very same day in the very same job for this very same pay over 25 years ago.”

The guys let that sink in.

One of the wise guys piped up and said, “Wait a second Charlie. Let me get this straight…”

“Go for it,” said Charlie.

“You and McClanahan started working for this railroad company on the same day on the same job for the same pay over 25 years ago?”

“You’ve got it right,” said Charlie.

The wise guy smirked and said, “Well, if that’s true, how come he’s the president of the company and you’re still out here sweating and toiling-away with us?”

The youngsters all noticed that this was the one question that took the wind out of Charlie’s sails.

The old fellow hung his head and spoke.

“Well, I’ve been asking myself the same question for a long time,” Charlie stammered. “And a few years ago, I finally figured it out.”

His crew wanted to know the secret.

“Twenty-five years ago, when I was looking for job … ol' Bill was looking for a career.”

As always,

Brian

P.S. — I can't help you find a job or a career. That's not what I do.

But if you're looking to harness direction in your life so that you can figure out the next job, or a career shift — on your own — that is what we help you do.

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