“Why are you here?” I asked.

Ethan paused, sensing his response could not be casual. He knew I would only ask a more probing question. “I have to provide for my family,” he finally replied.

“But, you could do that with most any job,” I predictably prodded. “Why are you here? At this place? At this time?”

“I don’t know, it just sort of happened. A friend told me I could get a job here and things worked out. I started on the floor seven years ago, was promoted to supervisor, and here I am now, just promoted to manager.”

“Why don’t you leave?” I wanted to know.

Ethan took another pause. “Over time, I got used to working with these people. They’re my best friends. Sometimes, I think I spend more time with them than I do my family. Heck, they are like my family. I have an investment in the other people I work with.”

“You are getting closer,” I suggested. “How does that understanding serve you, as a manager?”