The one that got away

It's been a while since I've posted, and a lot has changed in my career. After three and a half years at The Olympian, I am back in Federal Way as publisher of the Mirror. I missed Federal Way, but never thought I would return, especially in this capacity. In many ways the job is the complete opposite of journalism. I am thinking about the paper's reputation and financial health. I am focused on creating the conditions to ensure the entire team succeeds. It is a blessing to stay in the newspaper business and mold a publication. The job comes with a different level of stress that I am still learning how to handle.

I sometimes miss reporting the news, but also feel relieved to be doing something else. Once upon a time, I dreamed of someday working for The Seattle Times as an editor or a reporter. The closest I ever came was having the Times pick up a few of my stories through the wire service. The Times can pick and choose pedigree journalists who are lining up for a job. They are the big leagues, and I didn't get the big break. Not that I was looking for one. I believe that we're supposed to end up where we end up, and I was ending up on the local news side of things. I still wrote hard-hitting stories that mattered to local readers. I also wrote a lot of throw-away news that was forgotten the day after printing.

I like to think I was a better than average reporter. I was grateful to finally realize what it took to be a great reporter, and I had been working toward that goal while knowing the goal wasn't in the cards. I could tell a good insightful story, but I lacked the investigative reporting experience needed to reach the highest levels. I worked with colleagues who were capable of reaching that level, and the self-comparison was humbling.

I have always gravitated to local journalism and have no regrets. When I think of a story that "got away," I don't think of an investigation that fizzled or a rumor that sizzled.

The one that got away just happened to be a man who changed the world.

At previous job, I wanted to answer the question: Who is the wealthiest person in Olympia? The question generated a range of responses from the city's movers and shakers. One name that surfaced was Dee Hock, who created Visa through his unorthodox approach to business.

Aside from publishing some heavy metaphysical books about his philosophy, Hock has stayed out of the limelight. I searched for his contact information and tried unsuccessfully to reach him. Then I found his address.

With a notepad and nothing to lose, I drove to his house on the outskirts of the city. He lived on a well-maintained waterfront cul-de-sac surrounded by surprisingly modest homes for a guy who founded Visa - certainly upper-end, but not extravagant.

And he answered the door! Mr. Hock is in his 80s. He was calm, steady, sharp. He listened to my pitch for a profile, and he said he would think about it. He gave me his cell phone number and said to call him in a few days. He politely declined because of concerns about his privacy. And that was that. Obviously I wasn't pitching it as "I'm going to tell people you're the richest man in Olympia." He is a fascinating individual who lived in the same fishbowl as our readers.

The story wouldn't have netted any awards. But I bet readers would have loved it.