One of the pleasant times of my life was in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. I had fled Denver, my failed sports magazine and my mismanagement of The Four Winds Hotel. It was a truly crazy and dangerous spot for me.
In place of these ventures was a job at one of the little campuses of the University of Wisconsin system in West Bend. It felt so comfortable and personally rewarding. I came to respect and appreciate the students. My boss, Bob Thompson, was head of the campus and became a best friend. I loved him for the rest of his life. A University of Chicago PhD graduate, Bob was a mentor, wisdom figure and a huge advocate for students who came to the beautiful little campus. Over many years, I’m certain Bob changed the lives of many young men and women for the better.
Why couldn’t I just settle in and smell the roses?
But opportunity knocked, and I moved up the administrative ladder of the University of Wisconsin. I left the idyllic life of the small campus and moved to the central office in Madison.
Why did I need to be so ambitious? I returned to my emotional roller coaster. I drank too much. I made several poor personal choices. A huge discrepancy grew between the inside me and the one I portrayed to others.
I wish I had been more like Bob Thompson.