When I wrote “The Accidental Executive”, my goal was to share a story about discovering purpose and making an impact through public service. While memoirs about civil service may speak to a niche audience, this audience holds deep significance for me. Seeing the book...
My father often joked that every inanimate object was home to mischievous gremlins, whose sole mission was to annoy us in any way possible. If an engine bolt fell out of my hands and landed in a clearly visible but very hot and inaccessible location, it was those darn little tricksters at work. When a tool broke, it was just the gremlins having fun. By blaming these annoyances on our invisible foes, he taught me to see setbacks as chances for perspective, not frustration. My father also taught me that these gremlins can always be defeated with patience and perseverance. Just keep trying, and sooner or later, they’ll give up.