He served at the highest levels of the FBI. Now he serves his community as a school bus driver.
Mike Mason served was an FBI agent for 23 years. Now he's a school bus driver.
Mike Mason is the epitome of a service-minded American. The 63-year-old retiree spent more than two decades in the FBI, rising to the number four position before he left the bureau in 2007. "About half of the FBI fell under me," Mason told CBS affiliate WTVR. Before that, he was a captain in the Marines, and after that, he worked as an executive at a Fortune 500 company until his retirement.
But Mason told CBS Evening News that lounging around in retirement didn't sit well with him. "I still had a mind and I still had things I was capable of doing," he said. He wanted to do something that was worthy of his time and energy.
During the pandemic, Mason saw that there were so many people who were doing extra things and people going to jobs that they had to do. "I felt like I could be doing something to help in this post-pandemic recovery," he said. He found out that his local school district was desperately short of bus drivers, so he applied.
After seeing his impressive resume, someone up the ladder in the county called him—just to make sure his application was for real. He assured them he was serious. And since he was hired, he has taken the job seriously, ensuring first and foremost that the kids are kept safe.
He also takes a great deal of pride in his work. Mason keeps Turtle Wax on hand and waxes the bus he drives, which he said is the Marine training in him coming out. "I am what I am," he told WTVR, laughing.
He also believes his job as a bus driver is as important as the job he was doing with the FBI.
"I've done some important things," he told WTVR. "But this is important too."
"I think in our society we need to get next to the idea that there are no unimportant jobs," he told CBS Evening News. "I mean, what could be more important than the attention we pay to our education system?"
Retired FBI boss finds new career driving a school buswww.youtube.com
What a wonderful example of being dedicated enough to serve your community, even when you don't have to, and being humble enough to step down the hierarchy of careers to fill a need that needs filling. Some people might be too proud to go from the top levels of government and business to driving a school bus, but Mason doesn't look at it that way. He saw a job that needed to be done and he was able to do it, so he did.
He has even donated the equivalent of what he's making as a bus driver to charity, according to CBS.
"I believe if all of us gave a little something," he told WTVR, "Wow, how we could impact this world! How we could change this world!"
Indeed, how we could. Thank you for showing us how it's done, Mr. Mason. You are truly an inspiration for us all.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.