Introduction 5 Sidebar 1.2C. Getting to Know You: Gerry the Expressive It was not until her midseventies that Gerry felt any sign of slowing down. She had worked fifteen hours a day all her adult life, a little less on weekends. She did it because it was fun, and it made her feel special. She was a professional writer and motivational speaker. Although the work took a lot out of her mentally, it wasn’t all that demanding physically. The important thing to Gerry was that it let her mind run free, earned her tons of acclaim, and made her stand out in any crowd. Moneywise, it was always feast or famine. The last thing you’d call Gerry was shy. Larger than life, she could “take stage” with the best of them. If she walked into a room and all eyes didn’t turn in her direction, she’d be disappointed. And she’d do something to make that happen. As she grew older, Gerry found it harder and harder to stand out. She would certainly agree with the people who say our culture values youth and vigor over experience and wisdom. But she kept plugging away. Her mind stayed clear and her typing fingers nimble. Her biggest worry in her later years became finding a receptive audience. Who wanted to read about the things she knew? Who wanted to listen to ancient history? The last thing she wanted was for readers to consider her boring. So, yes, she’s slowing down. She puts in maybe half the hours she used to. But she still hungers for the spotlight. Tip-Offs: It is not hard to find Gerry’s intense expressive streak: thirst for freedom and standing out, a desire to take stage, and fear of becom- ing boring. The traits describe someone who gets tired of the conven- tional and tries to stir things up. She’s the kind of person who’d wear a rainbow tie with her business suit—if she had a business suit. Sidebar 1.2D. Getting to Know You: Kirk the Analytic Kirk was a high school math teacher for forty years. He also did some coaching on the side and painted houses in the summer. By and large, he was content with his place in life. In his senior year of high school, he met and fell in love with Nell, who was a real estate sales agent. The two of them complemented
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