Posted on 02/05/2009 8:22:34 AM PST by Red in Blue PA
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Michael Gates Gill was a high-flying, six-figure-earning advertising executive years ago before he was abruptly fired. He had created huge campaigns for companies like Christian Dior and Ford and lived an even bigger life, with luxury automobiles, lavish vacations and fabulous clothes.
Michael Gates Gill's book about how working at Starbucks changed his life became a bestseller.
These days, however, he's traded his $3,000 Brooks Brothers suits for khakis and a green apron; the big bucks for a $10 an hour job as a barista at Starbucks. But Gill says he couldn't be happier.
"Losing my job turned out to be a gift in disguise."
After 26 years at J. Walter Thompson, a leading advertising agency, the then 63-year-old Gill was invited to an early breakfast and was told that he was getting the boot. He made too much money. Someone younger would work for less, he was told.
"Never go out to breakfast," he warns before bursting into laughter. "It's like the Mafia. You will never return."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Great to see he's happy though, good for Starbucks.
He was 63-years old. He just accepted the facts of his situation and decided to be happy anyway.
“I am in love with my God and family, and need nothing else.”
100% agreement with you on that.
“You’re off base on this one.”
You could be right, but why should I trust the intent or believe anything CNN tries to shove down my throat? They’re only interested in serving themselves and their own agenda.
I question the messager more than the message.
That's one view of the story. I happen to have a different one.
It takes a special personality to make it in the world of "... luxury automobiles, lavish vacations and fabulous clothes. In addition to the ability to perform in certain jobs, there must also be a compromised immune system against predation, arrogance, huge deliberate ethical blind spots and running over others in order to be among the "elite few." Whatever it takes.
That this story is deemed "amazing" is what I find amazing. Millions of intelligent, educated and competent Americans have made a conscious decision to not go there. Compromising or growing an ethical blind spot for the sake of "success" was not a priority for them; they chose a lesser course not because they were lazy, but because they chose not to swim among the sharks. Granted, that is admirable to those who choose the life, but not to most.
The key here is hidden among the story:
Paraphrasing, "... I may have an "inferior" job but I have a full-time life."
The silent witnesses, the millions who have chosen the other path, raise successful families and enjoy a longer and more satisfying life as a result. You will seldom find them among the suicides when a national or global financial crisis occurs.
then you don’t know the advertising world ... they’ll drop anyone in a NY minute. It’s as cutthroat as business a there is.
Well, it's "attractive" enough to introduce a weekly TV "reality show" about it.
Not that I will change my attitude about "reality" shows. I have never watched one. What's the entertainment value in exhibitionist losers?
I am so out of the tv loop ... have never seen one reality show ... and plan to keep it that way!
I agree with you about CNN! I don’t listen to a word they say, either.
brooks brothers suits don’t sell for $3000. $1600 tops. this article
is a lie.
For off the rack stuff, yeah. But BB Golden Fleece MTM suits starts at around $1200 for the cheap fabric and goes up to around $4000.
“This is subtle BS selling of the socialist agenda. You must be prepared to accept lowered expectations. Be happy with your new lot in life, serf.”
Not just the socialists, me too. I’ve been telling people to expect to live on one third of present income, once we have to start dealing with our debt (i.e., after we run out of suckers to loan us money). It will be very ugly, probably big-time inflation...but it is coming soon (in my opinion, based on my calculations).
Think you’re right...we’re headed for beau coup inflation—and probably demise.
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