Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

I have chosen or sometimes stumbled into a non-traditional career. For most of my career I have been a so-called free-agent, which in practice means I am utterly dependent on a network of clients and colleagues.

Only twice in all these years have I encountered what I could call "trickery." In one case it involved a financial officer attempting to hide and compensate for his incompetence. In the other, a client consistently failed to follow-through on agreements. In neither case was there malevolent intent. In each case, the individuals were not so much trying to trick me as they were in deep denial regarding their reality.

I have, however, sometimes felt I was being the trickster. My most important role has been to persuade clients and colleagues of their capacity. Both clients and colleagues have been lazy, fearful, hesitant, and blind. It has often seemed as if I needed to "trick" them into believing in their own ideals and taking a heroic path.