Mrs. Hawthorne’s secret stash
// May 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Daily Life, People
I subscribe to Dan Miller’s 48 Days newsletter. It’s published weekly and provides encouragement to those working through career transition or improving on an existing path. He’s written several great books on finding the job you love either for new employment or for those embarking on the challenging task of beginning a new business.
A recent newsletter had an interesting story about Nathaniel Hawthorne. Several things struck me after reading it. Here is the snippet.
Honey, I got Fired — Nathaniel Hawthorne went home to tell his wife that he had just been fired from his job. “Good,” she said. “Now you can write your book.” “What do we live on meanwhile?” Hawthorne asked. His wife opened a drawer filled with money. “I have always known that you are a man of genius,” she said. “So I saved a little each week, and now I have enough to last for a year.” Hawthorne used the time to write “The Scarlet Letter,” one of the great masterpieces of American literature.
First I noticed that he “failed” by getting fired. At least that’s what most people think of when on the losing end of that dreaded event. To Hawthorne it was a setback (failure). Where will the money come from (failure). How will I provide (failure). Guys have a need to be providers. Losing a job puts a major dent in that armor. But read on… Second thing I noticed was that he had a wife that knew him well and planned for his success. She saw his genius, perhaps even before he did. With that, she put away money, knowing if given an opportunity to write, he would be successful.
Our wives play an important role in helping us guys see our genius. But that too is a choice that must be made on both sides of the equation. For the wife it means having patience and impeccable timing. Knowing what to say and how to say it. For a husband it means being willing to listen and accept that she may actually be right about a few things. That’s a tough one for the male in the species. But one thing is for sure… it’s risky either way. But so worth it.
Mrs. Hawthorne knew the language of her husband. She knew just what he needed to hear. She didn’t focus on the negative. In “The Noticer” (which I would get your hands on as soon as humanly possible), one of the chapters portrays a marriage gone bad and the communication disconnect that caused it. Very simply, you need to understand your mate’s love language, that which speaks life into him or her. If only there were a Rosetta Stone for marriage, you ask. It’s really not that tough once you know what the language is. Why would you learn German while planning a trip to France. Doesn’t make much sense. Get The Noticer. It will change your life.
Back to the job dilemma… Whether it’s losing a job or some other situation that may or may not come up suddenly, we each have the ability to choose how to respond. Don’t give up. Perhaps it’s time to try something different. Take your accumulated experiences and see where they may point you. If you are in that position of having been let go from a company or are considering a change, take a look at some of Dan’s offerings at the 48 Days Website (after you’ve read The Noticer).
“, is great. This week his newsletter contained an old and familiar line from Old McDonald’s farm. Instead of cows and chickens, Dan share’s some neat tips about how to engage people when you write, speak, or even while you’re at work. Using EIEIO, you get the following:
