The price of freedom – 04/14/2023 – Rodrigo Zeidan

“How much do you want to work for me?” “Sorry, but your company doesn’t have enough money for that.” “Why not?” replied the exasperated CEO. “Do you have any idea of ​​our turnover?” “You don’t understand,” I replied. “I don’t want to work for you. If you do, we can talk about how I can work with you.”

Freedom always has a price. Of course, many times we don’t have options. If food is missing from the table, freedom is not a priority and we do whatever is necessary to survive. But building a career where you don’t have a boss is possible, as long as you understand what you’re giving up.

I didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher, but the career opened up as I discovered that I didn’t want to be bossed around or boss anyone around.

I was fired within two weeks of my first job, as I was terrible at following orders that didn’t make sense. He did things the way he thought was most efficient, which didn’t go over well with people who liked things done their way.

Privileging freedom meant saying no to many opportunities in my career. Do you want to be director of sustainability at one of the three largest US banks in New York? No thanks.

What about being CFO of a medium-sized company in Pará? Tempting, but also not. Want to be an MBA director? “Does it involve bureaucracy and not having my time or can I do it efficiently, delegating when possible and choosing when to be on the program?” “No, it means coming to work every day, because the team is used to the program leader being there all the time.” “Then step.”

Freedom is not just giving up opportunities and sometimes much higher wages. It’s also knowing that there are very interesting goals that you will never reach.

“There is a call for multidisciplinary projects with people from different countries. Would you like to be co-principal investigator?” “I’m sorry, but no. If I’m going to do my part, matching co-authors however we want, I’ll do it, but leading and dealing with bureaucracy is not for me.”

It is important to know your limits. Mine is to try to get through life wasting as little time on bureaucracy or requirements on my time.

Real case: a famous university in Brazil falsified my leave request in order not to pay vacation. The union said it was a win and indicated that I should go to court. I abandoned the money so as not to get bored.

And this desire for independence and freedom is also intellectual. I’m not part of groups. Obviously, this means that I will never be able to contribute to the country as part of a government team. But that’s okay, I would be fired within 24 hours after the first no that I said to a boss or a minister. It’s liberating not having to defend politicians or people from a party, knowing that an idea is bad, just because you have to show loyalty to a political group.

What are your non-negotiable values? It took me a long time, but I managed to articulate mine. I have no big monetary ambitions and no attachment to power. I don’t want to participate in political groups. I really want to be able to contribute to the country, but in my own way. And I see no other career than that of an independent intellectual. But those are my choices, which are good for few.

The lesson of history is: what are your values? What do you not give up? It is worth making them clear. Life is much more peaceful when you know what you really want.

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