Read on Twitter
When my dad was in his mid-50s, after having served as president of the divisions of major corporations, he found himself out of work.
Couldn't find a job.
Didn't complain. Now about ageism, or any type of "ism."
I never once heard him complain.
1/
Couldn't find a job.
Didn't complain. Now about ageism, or any type of "ism."
I never once heard him complain.
1/
He couldn't find a job...but you know what?
He was what we today call an "essential worker" (used today as a totally bullshit term).
If he didn't work. We didn't eat.
So you know what he did?
Mid-50s former company president...
He got f**king newspaper route.
2/
He was what we today call an "essential worker" (used today as a totally bullshit term).
If he didn't work. We didn't eat.
So you know what he did?
Mid-50s former company president...
He got f**king newspaper route.
2/
I was about 9 years old at the time. He and my mom would wake me up at 3 or 4 a.m. and we'd head to the newspaper distribution place.
I hated it.
Folding up newspaper and putting them in bags.
Before sunrise.
Then hitting the road in the station wagon.
3/
I hated it.
Folding up newspaper and putting them in bags.
Before sunrise.
Then hitting the road in the station wagon.
3/
My dad would drive. My mom would navigate.
I'd sit in the back in a sea of newspapers, throwing them out the back window on to peoples' driveways.
I hated it.
But it was the single best educational experience I ever had.
4/
I'd sit in the back in a sea of newspapers, throwing them out the back window on to peoples' driveways.
I hated it.
But it was the single best educational experience I ever had.
4/
And still...
I never heard my dad complain.
But he also knew he had a choice.
So in his mid-50's, he reinvented himself as an entrepreneur.
Didn't complain. Knew he had a choice.
So he made the choice to thrive.
5/
I never heard my dad complain.
But he also knew he had a choice.
So in his mid-50's, he reinvented himself as an entrepreneur.
Didn't complain. Knew he had a choice.
So he made the choice to thrive.
5/
He went on to have a 25-ish year career after that doing incredible things...
Including having a patent on all the electric switches on the Boeing 777 while leading a team at the Illinois Tool Works Switches division.
6/
Including having a patent on all the electric switches on the Boeing 777 while leading a team at the Illinois Tool Works Switches division.
6/
You always have a choice.
You can whine.
You can complain.
You can buy into the "powers that be" who want you to believe you don't have a choice.
Or...
7/
You can whine.
You can complain.
You can buy into the "powers that be" who want you to believe you don't have a choice.
Or...
7/
You can choose to create.
You can choose to ask, "how can I do this?"
Instead of saying, "I can't do this. I have no choice."
8/
You can choose to ask, "how can I do this?"
Instead of saying, "I can't do this. I have no choice."
8/
Complain or create.
Whine or choose.
Let others define who is "essential" and "non-essential."
It's up to you.
9/
Whine or choose.
Let others define who is "essential" and "non-essential."
It's up to you.
9/
But know this...
If you're in a job you hate and you feel unsafe and you're mad you've been designed "essential."
Be a true hero.
Step aside for one of those people in the food lines who WANTS to work.
You're essential if you want to be.
You have a choice.
10/10
If you're in a job you hate and you feel unsafe and you're mad you've been designed "essential."
Be a true hero.
Step aside for one of those people in the food lines who WANTS to work.
You're essential if you want to be.
You have a choice.
10/10
Addendum: Sorry about typos. This was an unplanned tweetstorm and flowed out of me this morning. Apologies for my fat fingers 
11/10 (yes I wrote that...)
11/10 (yes I wrote that...)
