Why My Corner Office Felt Hollow

Sara Causey joins host Matthew Gray of 50 Tastes Of Gray for an unscripted conversation about authenticity, creativity, art, and building a life that feels genuinely hers. A biographer, author, and artist, Causey explains why she rejected the conventional path to success, how she lets creative projects evolve, and why meaningful work often requires stepping beyond what feels safe.In this episode:Causey defines “eccentricity of purpose” as living authentically instead of conforming to expectations.She distinguishes between eccentricity as a marketing brand and eccentricity as a lived reality, including the willingness to be misunderstood.Causey recounts reaching a corner office at age 39 and realizing that the promised corporate-ladder victory felt hollow.She discusses regret, reinvention, and the importance of choosing differently with the time that remains.Her fascination with Richard Burton led to imaginative ideas centered on cinematic grandeur, spectacle, and artistic collaboration.Causey explains how she lets each writing project determine its own form, genre, audience, and voice.She argues that creative growth is not about hustle culture, but about challenging yourself and occasionally feeling scared by your own work.Her book Simply DAG: The Private Man in a Public and Dangerous Office uses an intimate first-person perspective to place readers inside Dag’s negotiations, bomb threats, and moments of danger.She shares how reader feedback confirmed that the book created a powerful sense of personal connection with Dag.The conversation closes with Swedish food, cloudberries, pickled herring, and the value of unscripted conversations.0:00 What "eccentric on purpose" actually means — and why faking it will kill you0:52 Real eccentric vs. brand eccentric — lipstick, beret, and the biographer they can't accept1:55 The corner office at 39 that felt like a pyrrhic victory2:52 Regret is a trap — don't die with your music still inside you4:28 Modern cinema is digital vomit — and why Richard Burton still ruins me5:50 My rebellion against sameness — bring back the robes, the gold, the spectacle7:21 I let the Muse tell me — stop holding your art in a death grip8:56 If you feel safe in your art, you're doing it wrong10:03 Simply DAG scared me — challenging the gatekeepers10:56 The Simply DAG elevator pitch — you're not reading history, you're IN it13:25 Screw the scripted interview — real conversation keeps your brain aliveSara Causey Contact Info: Website: https://saracausey.com Books: https://saracausey.com/my-books Podcast: The Causey Consulting Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-causey/ "Decoding the Unicorn" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSCS5PZTFollow Matthew Gray:   50 Tastes Of Gray — Broadcasting from Honolulu. One guest. No rules. New episodes weekly.50TastesOfGray@gmail.com Instagram: @50tastesofgray Facebook: facebook.com/50TastesOfGrayPodcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-hawaii Substack: 50TastesOfGray.substack.com YouTube: @50TastesOfGray#introvert#careerchange#highlysensitiveperson