I had a great dream the other night.
I dreamt I was a twentysomething given the job of managing a major league baseball team.
No, not just a team, I was managing the Boston Red Sox, one of the most storied franchises in history.
It was a great gig. I was paid well. Chicks dug me. I rubbed elbows with Curt Schilling and Manny Ramirez. "Sawx" fans loved me.
It even got better when we actually started winning. No, not just winning, but winning the World Series after a drought of 80-plus years. We even beat the dreaded New York Yankees in the trek.
Wow, what a great dream.
The team continued winning the next year too. And even though we didn’t win the Big One again, we did go back to the playoffs and gave our fans plenty to cheer about.
Then, the dream started going awry.
Now in my early thirties and my contract ending, it looked as though I was ready for a big pay day and a long term contract from management.
But the Red Sox only offer me around $500,000 a year. I balked. I was then offered a 3-year contract worth $1.5 million a year, but I balked again.
I then resign. What in the world is happening?
Wait, this isn’t a dream. This is the life and times of Theo Epstein, now-former GM of the Boston Red Sox.
There has to be a lesson in employee retention here. This guy had everything, right? Great job. Fame. Fortune. Right?
Guess not. Guess employment’s not necessarily about money, celebrity and/or the eternal love of a large city.
I guess the respect and appreciation of your employer is pretty important too … at least for Theo, anyway. Doubt he’s alone.
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