Many moons ago, I ate lunch with my boss and our team. Back then, I was a vegetarian and ordered gnocchi at this excellent Italian restaurant near our office. The restaurant had a crackling fireplace and wooden beams zigzagging across the ceiling.

Out of nowhere — zap! — he asked me what my goals were.

In our office building was a doctor’s office. To that doctor’s office came a boy or man with one of those halos drilled into his skull. I had trouble looking at this man from the balcony above without feeling a tad nauseous. I did not like thinking of having metal drilled into me.

This was a loooong time ago, and I’d never seen a halo.

It seems odd that I saw this boy enough to remember it. He must have had a lot of doctor’s appointments.

I kept thinking of that boy — thought of him many times over the years — and wondered if he got 100% better.

I was young, but I was never the kind who felt immortal. A lot of people in their 20s do feel that way, and I think everyone should enjoy that time period if they can. I felt extremely mortal, especially after seeing that halo.

When that boss — such a great person — asked me what my goal was, I told him I would have a book of poetry published.

His eyes became wide.

I knew why.

There’s no money in it.

Business people often want to know why someone would pursue something with no money in it. If you’re reading this, you’re probably an artist of some kind. I know I don’t have to tell you. 😉 Unless you’re the kind who sells installations to Nordstom’s for $25,000 a pop.

The words escaped my mouth before I realized it. I was a bit surprised at myself. I figured the ‘right’ answer would be to say, “raise $42 million for INSERT NONPROFIT HERE)” since that is what our company helped to do.

What’s amazing is to look back on that conversation and think that the poetry book is coming. After all that time.