I had a really interesting conversation with my wife, Elayna. I asked her a question that I’ve never asked her before. “Why do you think I’m in the right profession?”
The answer was pretty shocking and revealing. “I think you’re more than a finance guy, Frank. I think you’re good at the job, but I don’t believe it’s what you’re supposed to be doing.”
Thanks, babe. Way to throw a monkey wrench into the career there. (I’m obviously kidding and I’m not having a mid-career crisis or anything).
In all seriousness, it’s important to have periodic check-ins like these. I know where I want to ultimately take my career and it’s just good to poke someone else’s brain that knows you. Spouses can be a huge advantage in this regard. The wife and I met at college, and we’ve been designing our future together for the last 10 years. It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s also such a competitive edge over my peers.
Elayna pushes me and makes me better. She calls out my BS, and makes sure that whatever I’m pursuing in my life and career that it aligns back to what makes Frank Pace great.
So if I’m not a finance person, what am I?
Well, I’m a builder, an optimizer, a lover of creation, a grower. When I’m working on things that speak to these traits I’m doing my best work. And at the end of the day, the goal is to do your best work.