The experience of learning how to get straight to the core of a problem proved to be of immense value later when I had a long succession of responsibilities in large, complex government departments.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I learned the value of hard work by working hard.
When I came to Congress, I came to bring what I thought was a real-world business perspective to government because, in the business world, I spent over 20 years in the high-tech industry, but it certainly was not unique.
I always concentrated on doing the very best that I could in the job and the duties that I was assigned.
In such an environment, I was able to study things that could be of immediate usefulness to the world. That learning experience undoubtedly served me well when I eventually entered the work force.
As a civil servant in charge of the government's Strategy Unit, I brought in many people from outside government, including academia and science, to work in the unit, dissecting and solving complex problems from GM crops to alcohol, nuclear proliferation to schools reform.
I worked my way through the education system and was treated as though I had value.
A good part of my leadership skills is crafted from learning from experiences early in my career that were not positive experiences.
I learned more complex ways to manipulate the manipulators, to bring attention to issues about which I felt passionate.
I had a 20-year, stellar government career.
Being under the microscope meant I was never given any slack. I still managed to screw up plenty in life, mind you, but in the things I really cared about - the legal work, or the stories I was telling as a writer, or the office I built in government - I wasn't left a lot of margin for error. It's kept me driven.
No opposing quotes found.