Nobody fails....

“Pursuing other interests” is a catch-call statement used to announce the departure of someone from their job. The words “sacked”, “dismissed” or “released” are totally taboo these days, rather like “failure” in the academic world. I heard last year that children at my son’s school had achieved “deferred success”, which can be translated as “failed their examinations”. Nobody fails or at least nobody is told they have failed because of a fear of upsetting that person. In the case of today’s schools, it’s fine that children abuse teachers, parents and their class-mates, but try and discipline them and you are in trouble. Nanny state? No, it’s almost police state and the kids are the dictators!!
In the world of investment banking, the term “pursuing other interests” is another way of saying, “he’s been sacked”. It’s all designed to ensure that nobody gets a hint of bad feeling, trouble at mill or personality clashes. In a world where cliques rule and the boss surrounds himself with those that nod in agreement, very few people get fired for being ineffective- they get “released” for aligning themselves with the wrong people, being too tricky to handle when the sands shift and a new regime sweeps in, or being a threat to someone.
When, not if, I announce that I am going to “pursue other interests”, I will make damn sure that people know that I am going, but it won’t necessarily be my own choice.