Transforming a Federal Agency

Chapter 14Final Thoughts—An Experience of a Lifetime

I write this chapter to provide random thoughts for someone interested in serving in a presidential administration. For me, it was an experience of a lifetime. I felt that way for several reasons: working for Secretary Carson was a pleasure, the mission was meaningful, it's a beautiful city, the people were great, and I felt I was bringing value. But I'm conscious of the fact that, for me, it was basically volunteer work, as I was not looking to build a résumé. I felt an immense responsibility to deliver what was expected, and brought the appropriate level of intensity, but I didn't feel the same pressure that comes with building a career as a younger man.

I took time to enjoy the unique offerings of working in government and of the city itself. Many times, I ran too fast at EY to appreciate new experiences. I hopped on plenty of red-eyes. I thought nothing of flying from Chicago to Singapore for a one-day meeting and then heading home again. If I had to do it over, I might spend an extra day or two to more fully absorb the cultures, people, and food. But there was always another meeting or critical deadline to meet, which seemed so important at the time…but maybe not so much upon reflection. So during my time at HUD, I really tried to resist the daily rush to the finish line. I knew this was a unique experience, so I wisely took the time to savor all of it.

In this chapter, I talk about pursuing a career in the executive ...