Being CC Sabathia

So here’s the situation…

You are the Crowned Jewel of your industry. Not only do you do everything well, but you do it all with an incredible amount of passion and energy. In fact, you are so passionate about what you do, that when someone tries to stop you from doing your job the best that you can, you tell them to shove it and put your own health in jeopardy.

There are two elements to this. First, you are the best in your craft. Second, you are essentially the most desirable coworker to have on the face of the earth. Due to the combination of these effects and the fact that your specific field is not financially regulated, someone on planet earth will be willing to pay you as if you were Zeus to join their company.

You can however live comfortably without being paid like Zeus; and something about your current office has captivated you. Even though you have only been at Awesome Offices for half a year, your office is making more positive strides than they have in the last quarter century.

Awesome Offices is filled with mostly younger kids, but there are a few older guys that are happy to be there, and the good news is they’ve got some money to burn; which means they’ll most likely burn it on you. But more importantly, Awesome Offices has been recognized nationally as the most improved office of the year.

You can tell that the national recognition is only making your company more determined to succeed. The younger kids are being offered more money to stay, and the older guys are being asked to stay on board and help the younger kids. There is a home for you here.

On the other side of the coin is Elite Corp. They are the most trusted name in the history of this industry. Elite Corp has seen your ability, and they want you. More importantly they will literally give you a blank check and let you fill it out however you want. They want to be the best organization of all time and their goal is to make you an offer nearly impossible to refuse.

On the surface it is pretty cut and dry. You choose between one of the other. But there is always a catch, and here it is…

Because of your status in the business, the entire industrial field will not only wait to see what your decision is, but react in numerous ways, based exclusively on the decision that you make.Somehow, even though you have done everything right, you single-handedly control the entire market place. Wherever you go, and whatever your price, you set the standard.

If Elite Corp signs you, you will pave the way for tens if not hundreds of industry workers, who may or may not ever pan out to be as good as you. But in reality, nothing else will matter, because you will have so much money that you can build your own ark to survive the impending flood caused by the greed that you sparked.

If you stay with Awesome Offices, your coworkers will be thrilled, and you will be regarded as a hero. Only problem is, everyone else in your industry will hate you forever. You see, by not taking the huge paycheck, you set the standard for what anyone of your skill level should be paid.

Oh yeah, one more thing…

All of America will forever judge you for the decision you are about to make. I’m not really sure why it is this way, but that’s not what is important. You will be forever labeled and typecast in the minds and hearts of America.

Your name is CC Sabathia.

What do you do? Or more importantly: Despite all that you have done to prove that you will do anything to win; is there any way that you can win in this situation?