Vagabond Executive: Citadel of Mediocrity

By Dr. Bob Polk

Getting to know yourself can be painful but useful and fun at times. Here, the reader will discover how life interferes with success and success interferes with life. The insights to how government agencies really work is both funny and scary to read about. But there are many very useful ideas and opinions that are, in the authors opinion, quite worthwhile. Enjoy this authors roller-coaster adventure and learn!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546223962

Dr. Bob Polk

This is a true story, except for people's names. It describes a path of personal history in making of a new person. The appendices are part of the story; partly humorous, otherwise thoughtful and introspective. It is an experience to read and to recognize yourself. There are also ideas for management. All in all, an easy and worthwhile read.

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© 2018 Dr. Bob Polk. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/05/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-2315-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-2314-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-2396-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017919767

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

A Fore Word

Chapter 1: Finding a Place to Start

Chapter 2: When It Started

Chapter 3: The Road to Recovery

Chapter 4: Regaining Some Credibility

Chapter 5: My FBI Career

Chapter 6: Back to Work

Appendix 1: Citadel of Mediocrity

Chapter 1: A Bureaucratic Example

Chapter 2: A Newly Hired Office Analyst Begins

Chapter 3: Training for New IRSs at Academy

Chapter 4: The Office HQ Experience

Chapter 5: First SIA Experience – Alabama

Chapter 6: Moving on to Southern California

Chapter 7. Another New Beginning

Chapter 8. The Military Counterintelligence Adventure

Chapter 9. A Stupid Move

Chapter 10. A Wilderness Period

Chapter 11. Another Beginning

Chapter 12: The Job Search Agony – Again

Chapter 13: Another Beginning

Chapter 14: Postscript # 1–Yet Another Restart?

Chapter 15: Colors of Money

Chapter 16: Big Wheels

Appendix 2: Thoughts on Streamlining Government Agencies

Appendix 3: The Ethical Dilemma

Appendix 4: The Quest for Personal Significance

Appendix 5: The Last Socially Acceptable Discrimination

The End

About the Author

A Fore Word

T his is the second time around for this tome. The first time was a gallant attempt that failed due to an act of God on my computer. A virus visited and robbed it. Fortunately, I had rescued the first few pages since I had provided them to my friend Louise to read. Bless her-she kept them. So, my original thoughts in doing this work were partially preserved at least. I’ve chosen the title carefully; I have led the classic unsettled life, and have tilted at many windmills.

The story focuses on something most of us have in common: redefining our net worth in mid- to later life; you know, near the end of our working career. That time when we make decisions as if we had no experience leads us to recall the building of events which brought us to this point. What to do? Why can’t we focus? What’s wrong with our world? How to get ready for the rest of our lives? What to do to get going!

Very few people in my memory know what they want out of life; I mean REALLY want when they sense the time has come to make the choices. And don’t worry, regardless of your station in life, you will reach that point as the importance of assuring meaning of your life develops. I often wonder why, when we are younger, we presume that the meaning of our lives depends on other people. Do we feel this way because we haven’t realized our individualness, or is it because we think we are indispensable to others? What a paradox, precisely at the time of youth when we are most selfish we view ourselves as necessary for the benefit of others, but dependent on them for our fulfillment. Later in life we begin to realize that others are busy in similar but different quests, and they wish we would be about our own business.

If you haven’t heard this (or if you have, let me remind you)-The One to a Box Theory by Robert Ringer: When you die, how many other people do you think will hop in the box with you? Hmmm? As my dear late friend Marty said: At’s why hard brah! So here we are. My friend Mills stipulated that now you see us, soon you won’t. Mills has a theory that most other people we encounter in life (except our truest friends of course) have an Etch-A-Sketch view of the world.

Out of sight, out of mind? Not necessarily. As our life situation develops, we can reflect, reorganize, relearn if we must, and move on to bigger and better, maybe even best times. This is my story; when it started, what I lost and gained, what I learned, and maybe where I’m headed. Come on!

Chapter 1: Finding a Place to Start

A bout the age of 45, you begin to feel a sense of futility about how things might be (rather than should be) someday when you retire. Seems almost too early to think about that possibility, doesn’t it; after all, shouldn’t there be at least 20 years left? Lots of time, right? Consider why these thoughts begin to cross your mind.

First, almost everyone you know seems to look a bit older–yes older is the right term. Guess who also looks older? Bingo–it’s you! The habits of your youth, perhaps smoking or drinking or who knows what else, appear to be social reality crutches that are beginning to exact their price. Bouts of highs and lows over trivial things come without warning. If you’re the least bit aware, it may be the time to find reasons and direction, because we are mortal after all.

On the other hand, you probably are still reasonably healthy (i.e., alive). The reason may not be immediately apparent, when you reflect on your habits. But it is your spirit that lives constantly in hope of renewal. This is a perfect time and even a perfect place (any place is perfect) where it is not too late to begin the quest for your possibilities. If you think you’re invulnerable, think again. From here forward your genetic deterioration can accelerate largely by your own carelessness or attitude; or it can be slowed drastically by thought and deed.

Awareness building is a very special new habit to acquire. With increasing awareness, you become more alive to others, and realize why things in your life are the way they are. I earlier referred to life habits as social crutches. What may have started as an innocent adventure for social acceptance, long ago, may now be an offensive intrusion on both your health and on your interactions with others. Hard to accept? Perhaps so–but truer than you think. Well–next you say, how serious is it? VERY–is my reply! The reason is that you could now be under the influence of an external force; which you may realize, but think you can dismiss at some point in the future. For now, it may be thought of as a comfort–a help to get through life’s trials. Do drinking and smoking come to mind?

I think, if my own experience be considered, that I said I enjoyed my habits. I looked for others with the same habits, who understood. The fact is, I always wished I were stronger–able to do without, and at the same time substitute new rewarding interests. But hard to do is an understatement at best. What to do is the question. Looking for answers, I think, begins with the development process of the rest of your life adventure and this starts with awareness. Believe me, what others really think, and what is possible should amaze you. Yes! Adventure is what it can be–if you choose it to be. Not a silly tilting at every windmill, but an exploration of possibilities in a thoughtful and rewarding way, reasoned in the sense that new life decisions, large and small, develop in quality consistent with quality intent.

Awareness starts with listening, really listening to others. Not just hearing words, but observing their meaning by the speaker’s actions too. Actions validate meaning, and may be why, not so strangely, our behavior is reinforced.

It is in this context that the story I’m telling takes on insight. But before we start, consider this thought about the risk of seeking fortune, from Boethius (Rome, 524 A.D.) before his execution:

Mortal! It was you yourself who cast your lot not with Security but with Fortune. Never rejoice overmuch when she leads you to great victories; never repine when she leads you into sad adversity. Remember Mortal, if Fortune ever should stand still, she is no longer Fortune.

(Reported by Gary Jennings in his 1992 novel Raptor) Note: Boethius? 480–?524 AD, was a Roman philosopher and statesman, noted particularly for his work De Consolatione Philosophiae. He was accused of treason and executed by Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths and founder of the Ostrogothic monarchy in Italy: ruler of Italy 493–526 AD.

Consider the quest for realness–what is or isn’t real as we advance in our search. It may be simpler, perhaps than we think. So, think about this child’s tale quote:

Real isn’t how you are made.- said the Skin Horse. It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become REAL. Does it hurt?–asked the Rabbit. Sometimes, – said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful–but when you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt. Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, or bit by bit?–Rabbit asked. It doesn’t happen all at once. replied the Skin Horse. You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or must be carefully kept. generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair might be loved off, your eyes might drop out and you might get loose in the joints and a bit shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to those people who don’t understand"

Quote from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco, 1922, United Kingdom

Serious growing adventures require taking a ride with Fortune. It also means that you need to be ready; to have grown and become seasoned. You must be aware if you hope to dismount that tiger without being eaten. So, follows my story of a life unlike any other, but with lots of similarities, perhaps. And think about my personal mantra:

The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing. – American guru Leo Buscaglia.

Chapter 2: When It Started

F ollowing high school graduation in East Liverpool. Ohio in 1954, I made the decision to attend a trade school, rather than college. This decision was the first difficult situation for my parents. Although I knew I needed formal training to leave my home town which was a labor depressed area, like many young men, I believed the future held plenty of time for more education if I ever needed it. The trade school I selected was Central Technical Institute of Kansas City, Missouri, which I chose for its 16-week Airline Station Agent curriculum. It would be a short cut to my future, and I was in love, or so I thought, with a high school sweetheart named Sondra.

My parents took me to the airport just following my 18th birthday, I will always remember their sad and hopeful look as I departed. Upon arrival at the school, I paid the first installment on everything and settled in to get acquainted. Within two weeks I was out of money. I casually called home for more and my father informed me that I was on my own. After a brief panic, I obtained a night-shift position as a cargo handler for Braniff Airlines. It was a good job and I had all the food I could eat from the planes after flight completion. I could also pay for and go to school. Now alone, I realized I could not go home or anywhere else without earning my own way. I completed trade school in December 1954 and accepted a job with Lake Central Airlines in Columbus, Ohio.

Feeling self- sufficient, I visited home. Things were not the same though; everything now seemed older and out of step. After enjoying the holidays, I returned to Columbus to begin my new job. About this time my girlfriend and I decided to marry. She was still in high school, so we planned to elope since we were sure our parents would not approve. This was to be the second and last distress situation I would place my parents in.

After starting my new job at the Columbus airport, I began thinking about the financial aspect of marriage. An airline station agent’s income was very small to start. But across the airport was North American Aviation (NAA), a military aircraft manufacturer. I had noticed their help-wanted ads and decided to investigate the possibility of a better paying job. Learning that NAA needed draftsmen and paid very well (around $ 400/month), I interviewed for a job based on high school drafting training. With my persistence and some hard and doubtful consideration,