Nine years of almost: Marek's story

Marek booked three sessions to prepare for a director-level promotion. He had the numbers, the tenure and the sponsor. On paper it was a formality.

In the second session I asked him to describe a good Tuesday in the new role. He talked for ninety seconds and stopped. Then he described a Saturday in his garage instead, and talked for eleven minutes.

We didn't abandon the promotion conversation — we tested it. What would have to be true for the director job to be a good life, not just a good title? He couldn't make the case, and he was relieved not to be able to.

He negotiated a four-day week at his current level. The company said yes in a week, which told him something about how much they wanted to keep him. The woodwork business turned a profit in its second year.

Not every story ends with someone leaving. This one ended with someone staying on terms they'd chosen.