Defining Moment at My Day Job

Star Date 09.02.25

If you happen to be the praying type, I’d be grateful if you’d keep me and my day job team in your prayers this week. We’re presenting a bold idea to upper management for consideration. A couple of weeks ago, I sent the idea all the way up the flagpole to the CEO, and to my surprise, it was well received. He asked us to expand on it, so our team put our heads together and built a slide deck showing how we can better serve our members. I can’t share the details here—company confidentiality—but I can share how it feels.

I keep hearing the words of my kindergarten teacher, written on my report card sixty years ago: “I think Michael can do better.” That wasn’t easy for a little boy to read, but my mother tucked that report card away for safekeeping until it resurfaced years later. Looking back, I agree with Mrs. Kabrice—I can do better. This presentation feels like my chance to prove it.

Now, I’ll confess something else from those early years. In kindergarten, I struggled with my teacher’s name, so I gave her the nickname Mrs. Caboose. That word was hard for me to pronounce at the time, but it was also fitting—I was often at the back of the class. Just like the caboose, though, sometimes being at the back helps push the whole train forward.

The caboose followed me into first and second grade, especially in gym class. I was usually last in our laps, and often picked last for team sports. But here’s the good news: I never gave up. And that same determination is guiding me now.

I may still feel like the underdog, the one at the back of the line. But this week, the “conductor” is willing to listen. And if there’s a chance to help my company move forward, then it’s worth every step it took to get here.

Let’s see if I can do better.

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” — Mark 10:31

Have a great day.