In profiles run simultaneously on the Saturday before the poll, it was disclosed that Premier Mike Baird had seriously considered bailing out of politics to resume his banking career a year earlier.

The catalyst was an informal approach from a corporate head-hunter. For Baird, there were a couple of compelling reasons to give it serious consideration.

First, there was no indication that then premier Barry O'Farrell was planning to step aside any time soon. Second, O'Farrell was refusing to publicly commit to privatising the state's electricity network - something Baird passionately believed in.

Baird downplayed the story when it emerged, saying he had never actually contemplated leaving.

But he took it seriously enough to hold a family meeting to discuss the pros and cons. Then the balance shifted radically a couple of months later with O'Farrell's shock resignation in April, after which Baird became Premier.

Baird contemplating an early return to the private sector was a juicy revelation which, surprisingly, Labor did not seize on.

It would have been a powerful line to run: you might vote this guy in but there's no guarantee he's going to stick around long after he flogs off the silverware.

It barely rated a mention for the remainder of the campaign. But since theelection, the question of Baird's longevity in the job has remained an intriguing subject for some.

At the time the story emerged, Baird didn't disclose precisely what doubts he was having last year other than to say he was thinking about whether to stay on after the election.

"It was probably more, what was our second term going to look like? What were we going to put forward? Would it be an ambitious program?" he said.

"I don't just want to tread water. I don't just want to stay in government. What are we doing and where are we going?"

To be fair, that's all entirely consistent with how Baird has approached his eight years in politics.

As Treasurer, he set his mind to ensuring that NSW could "live within its means", chiefly by pushing through cuts and reforms to ensure government spending was aligned with revenue.

Shortly before delivering his third budget as Treasurer in 2013, Baird declared he had "tamed the beast" of spiralling expenses by cutting public service numbers and capping wage rises for public servants.

Last year his successor, then treasurer Andrew Constance, declared the budget was "fixed". Mission accomplished.

Now the election win has given Baird the opportunity to pursue his next goal: the partial privatisation of the electricity network to fund a $20-billion infrastructure program.

The electricity transaction is expected to be complete within 18 months - bringing Baird to roughly halfway through the Coalition's second term in office.

As Baird demonstrated this week while announcing exploratory drilling for the one of the major projects the proceeds will fund - the second Sydney Harbour rail crossing - he is in a hurry to get the infrastructure side of things moving.

Unlike O'Farrell, a career politician who most believed intended to spend a record-breaking decade-plus in the premier's office, Baird has never made a secret that he's only interested in being in politics while he can "make a difference".

As one Liberal Party type said this week, it is conceivable that Baird could spend as little as one further term - or maybe even less - before feeling his work is done and heading back to banking or some other private-sector gig.

The logic is that once his signature infrastructure plan is funded and under way, the question for him will doubtless be: what's next?

There are, of course, always challenges to address in NSW politics, but whether they are of the scale to keep Baird in state politics is a real question.

The other factor creeping into people's minds doesn't necessarily involve a move out of politics at all: if not NSW, then perhaps Canberra?

It goes without saying the federal Coalition couldbenefit from some of Baird's popularity and ability to bring the electorate with him at the moment.

If Baird truly wants to "make a difference" through his contribution in politics, there are few better opportunities than on the national stage.