Chapter 17 - A Real Job
Bennett & Cole launched in January. We took a small office in South End — two rooms, a conference table, a coffee maker. Claire ran strategy. I ran business development. We hired three people by March. By June, we had six clients and a waiting list.
I still picked the kids up from school three days a week. I still made Jake's nebulizer treatments. I still helped Lily with her spelling words. But I did it with my name on the door, with my photo on the website, with people knowing who I was and what I did.
I wasn't hiding anymore.
One afternoon in May, I was at Lily's school for a field trip chaperone. A woman I didn't know — another mom — came up to me.
"You're Lily's dad, right?" she said. "I'm Tracy. My son is in Lily's class. I just wanted to say — my husband works at Cole & Associates. He says you're the best boss he's ever had. And I saw you speak at the chamber breakfast last month. You were great."
I smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot."
She hesitated. "Can I ask you something? How do you do it? The company, the kids, the new business — how are you everywhere?"
I thought about it. "I'm not everywhere," I said. "I'm just not hiding. I used to work from home and let people assume I was unemployed. It was easier. But easy isn't the same as right. Now I show up. For my company. For my kids. For my wife. It's harder. But it's worth it."
She nodded. "That's — that's really inspiring. Thank you."
She walked away. I stood there, watching Lily run around the playground, and I thought about Richard's question — get a real job. And I thought about my answer. A real job isn't about the title. It's about showing up. For the people who need you. For the work that matters. For yourself.
That night, I told Claire about the conversation. She laughed. "You're inspiring now? Watch out, Dan Cole. You're going to get a big head."
"Never," I said. "I've got you to keep me humble."
She kissed me. And outside, the kids were chasing the dog around the oak tree, and the grill was heating up, and summer was coming.
May you like
---
