The Most Passionate

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The work we are called to do.

Albert Siedlecki is a science teacher at a suburban middle school in the New Jersey area and he couldn't understand why a renowned neurosurgeon was calling and asking for him at his school. 

Mr. Siedlecki clearly changed at least one life by following his calling.

I look back on my career and I can't help but feel a sense of desperation. Not because the time was wasted, but because no past advertising client is ever going to call me when I am 50 to thank me for that campaign I built in 2010.

I didn't choose my field of work because of anything noble or heart affirming. It was easy work with lots of solid, extrinsic rewards - money, notoriety, and a sense of being valued by clients.

But now that is changing. I am finding time to reflect and open myself to doing the work that will matter when I am 50. What is the hard work you were meant to do?

A lifetime of working with middle schoolers in the US education system is anything but easy work. I doubt Mr. Siedlecki did it for the money or the fame and he certainly didn't expect to have such an impact or to be so vividly remembered.