Ask People What They Do, They Might Surprise You

When you’re working, one of the most common questions to ask new people you meet is what they do. Before the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, I happily said I worked in banking. A big part of my identity was where I worked for 60+ hours a week.

After leaving finance in 2012, I noticed I gradually lost interest in what people did for a living. Part of the reason was that I didn’t want anybody to ask me what I did for a living. I lost all my status.

During social settings, the last thing I wanted to do was think or talk about money. Therefore, I kept Financial Samurai and my old career mum. I knew others felt the same, so I never delved deeper into their professions, even if they volunteered.

The final reason why I stopped asking people what they did was that I often came away disinterested with their responses. Here in San Francisco, many people work in tech, finance, or law. If you’re not working in a well-paying profession, then you might be working at a startup that could make you rich.

There are some very fine people working in these professions. However, I just wanted to leave this type-A world behind, especially while I was in a social setting that had nothing to do with work. Unfortunately, my lack of interest in what people do cost me a deeper friendship.

It’s Worth Asking People What They Do

In November 2017, I joined a local Softball Meetup group. I wanted to diversify away from my tennis club friends and meet new people. I played softball growing up overseas (baseball wasn’t allowed at international schools) and wanted to get back into it.

One of the very first people I met at softball was a guy named Wynn. We immediately hit it off because we were both about the same age. I hadn’t played softball in 10+ years and neither had Wynn.

Despite the mix of sometimes rough personalities in meetup softball, Wynn was always the nice guy who got along with everybody. He was a team player who never complained about where he batted in the lineup or where he played on the field (unlike me sometimes).

Wynn got better and better over the years as a regular attendee. He was also someone who always had my back when someone else would put me down for a bad play.

A Temporary Scare

Then one day, Wynn stopped coming for about a month. It turned out he had gotten into an accident in his Smart car, those tiny two-seaters. During a downpour one day, he said he was driving down a highway ramp and hydroplaned.

He ended up breaking some bones, but thank goodness he was alright. I told him I had gotten rid of our Honda Fit for an SUV because we had just had a baby. I had witnessed too many accidents over the years. Further, I also noticed I was bullied more frequently when I drove a smaller car.

He decided to replace his totaled car with an SUV.

Before his car accident, we had been talking a lot about fatherhood because I was a new dad. He said he wanted to be a father, but was OK with not having children because his wife was unsure.

I was careful not to impose my feelings about being a parent on him. But I did tell him that one of my regrets was not having children sooner. Seeing how kind Wynn was to everyone, I knew he would be a great father.

The Surprise Announcement

A couple of years later, in 2020, Wynn told me some good news. His wife was pregnant! During the greatest time of uncertainty, I was elated to hear that he was going to be a father.

I shared with Wynn everything I knew about being a new father. We talked about what books to read, birthing doulas, night doulas, au pairs, tag-teaming night duty, parental leave strategies, and whether his pregnant wife should get the vaccine or not so close to birth.

We had both been going to every batting practice together during the entire pandemic. Every week, I was excited to meet up with Wynn to hear how his wife and baby were doing. I felt like an excited soon-to-be uncle!

Then on May 13, 2021, his beautiful baby daughter was born. I was thrilled to see her pictures on Facebook. I joked with him, “I guess I’ll see you next year!

However, I was secretly hoping he’d come back sooner. In a league mostly dominated by single men in their 20s and 30s, it was nice to have a fellow newbie dad to commiserate with when we messed up.

I’d also finally have someone my age who could better empathize with not diving for a ball or running at full sprint all the time. Pulling a muscle would pose challenges the next time we wanted to pick up our daughters.

The Tragic News

The last time I saw Wynn was on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at softball meetup. He went 3-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBIs, and three runs. Back when we first met in 2017, he would have gone 1-for-4 or maybe 2-for-4 with no RBIs.

Wynn never quit running hard.

Sadly, Wynn passed away that evening from an apparent heart attack. He was only 42.

We were going to spend the next decade swapping dad stories and child-raising strategies while on the field or in the dugout. We were going to keep sharing drafting strategies and taking turns trying out each others’ bats.

Softball and fatherhood. Fatherhood and softball. I had met a great friend and now he is gone.

Wynn Padula, The Film Maker

I lament never asking Wynn more about his career in filmmaking. I knew he did some type of cinematography, but I didn’t bother to inquire any further. He also didn’t brag about any of his accomplishments.

But it turns out that Wynn was a great filmmaker and cinematographer!

He was the Co-Producer and Director of Photography of Slomo, a brilliant short documentary about a neurologist who decided to give up his career and the money to live a simple life.

We have literally been talking about this topic on Financial Samurai since 2009.

From overcoming the downer of no longer making maximum money to shunning fame and attention, Wynn spoke my language and I didn’t even know it!

The documentary was shortlisted for an Academy Award and the winner of Best Short Documentary at SXSW and IDA. Please spend some time watching his documentary below. It would mean a great deal to me for you to honor his work.

Then, in 2017, Wynn released a Netflix original documentary called Resurface. Resurface is about a veteran who was on the verge of suicide before finding an outlet in the form of surfing. Wynn directed the film with his friend, Josh Izenberg.

I cannot believe it.

All these years, I had no idea Wynn was such an acclaimed filmmaker. Perhaps 0.1% of filmmakers ever win an award, let alone seven. Maybe even less get to produce their own Netflix original documentary.

How many highly-accomplished people do you know would refrain from telling hundreds of people over the years about their success? Wynn was so humble. He was the best type of person.

As a fellow creator, all we want is for our work to be seen, read, or heard. We put everything into our craft so that someone, somewhere might appreciate our work.

People Might Surprise You

We might choose not to ask what people do because we don’t want to seem nosy or competitive. But the reality is a lot of people will gladly tell you what they do if you just ask.

We spend so much of our lives working on something that’s hopefully meaningful to many. Yet, we don’t want to sound like we’re bragging about our accomplishments. Therefore, we seldom ever volunteer information and stories about what we do.

However, once you get to know someone over several encounters, please ask them what they do. Give them an opportunity to share their background. I now see asking people what they do as a sign of respect. It shows that you care.

Creators are always taking risks by putting their work out there. Every little criticism stings, but they continue to create because that is what they love to do. If you meet a creator, please dive in.

I’m sorry Wynn for never asking more about what you do. You were so talented outside of softball, but you were also so humble.

Thank you Wynn for your kindness to me and to everyone around you. Your films have expertly captured the plight of the human condition – how we all need purpose to keep on going and how sometimes, we might change our minds and that’s OK.

I will miss you so much my dear friend.

Readers, how can life be so cruel to good people? How do you cope with grief? What is a polite way to ask someone what they do? Is it possible for us to appreciate more and criticize less, especially if we aren’t willing to take a chance ourselves? If you have not gotten your life insurance sorted out, please do. You just never know.

Note: I am donating all revenue generated from this page to Wynn’s family. So far, I have given $1,638 and plan to host a yearly Wynn Padula Memorial Softball Tournament. Thank you for reading, watching, and supporting.

Related posts:

The Importance Of Having A Death File

Maybe Quitting Is The Best Decision After All

Dear Older Parents, Having Children Later May Be Better After All