Rocks, plastics, and a seat next to Al Gore

Many of my friends know that I travel the country and do so often. In a recent cross-country dash, I met two young Americans that had studied hard, and, at a seemingly young age, reached some fairly stout heights in terms of affluence. We'll call one "Rocks" and the other "Plastics".

Rocks

On a recent leg from Syracuse to Atlanta, I had the pleasure of sitting next to an individual that is a geologist. Rocks works for a petroleum refining firm. He provides testing of rock samples, water samples, and the like as the firm looks for oil in California. Rocks, as made clear by his description of his work, loves what he does. He is energetic, focused, and tireless about his work. Regardless of what many of us think about the petroleum cartel and its various affiliates, there are wonderful people doing exceptional work for these companies.

What was even more interesting about Rocks is that he embodies the career choice my daughter might pursue. My daughter's interest in geology, mainly in rocks such as diamonds, grows every day. In talking with Rocks, who graduated high in his class, it is a great deal of work and has a supply/demand imbalance. How many people do you know that pursue a career in geology? Not many is my guess. I know of only one other in my own network. The pay, therefore, is very good as are the choices of location and type of position.

Ultimately, what did I gain from my 2-hour plane ride with Rocks? There is still a great deal of energy, passion, and intellect left in our public/private school network. I was beginning to lose faith. My faith is now stronger than it was prior to my trip and is further buoyed by my conversation with Plastics. Mind you, it's not completely confirmed, but it is stronger.

Plastics

On my next leg - ATL to DAY - I sat next to a gentleman that worked in polymers. Wow, polymers, I thought. He confirmed that he did work with plastics. A PhD in Chemistry, Plastics traveled the world working with his clients on various products issues. Plastics was a pretty straightforward young man - hybrid vehicle, independent views, and plastics research. He even sat next to Al Gore on a plane ride back from India, so he claims, and discussed, after much courage was mustered, global warming and the former Vice President's work on climate control.

By now, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Which individual, Rocks or Plastics, did I admire less, even though both of them seem quite accomplished? Which did I admire more given their relatively young age and my perceived sense of their financial and career stature? At the end of it there is no dilemma really just a different reality.

Though we all begin our professional careers with the hope that we end up doing something noble and something to better the communities we serve, it doesn't always end up that way. Money is a wonderful motivator to do something else other than the noble. How often is it that we come across someone working in the field they studied? Are they happy? How often do we find ourselves working on something that truly serves nothing but the machine in which we all spin? Woe is us.

Be it rocks, plastics, or the seat next to Al Gore, the social contract compels us to do something...anything...to serve those around us. Be it a hamburger, a rock sample, a plastic mug, or strategic planning for financial institutions, we make the machine spin. The real question is the whether or not the machine is worth working for given all of the rust, the corruption, and the out and out lack of responsibility. I don't know. This is why I write. I hope to make some sort of difference. Add some new thinking to the overall conversation. When that spirit dies in all of us - whether we are made of rocks or plastic - all is lost.

Alas, be thankful for what you have, take only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the arctic hinterland that is Iowa City, IA, I bid you all a good night.