I always reflect on this time of year in July to the time I said yes. Five years ago, I received a call from someone who asked me a question that I had not even considered. At first blush, my response was no.
I was ten years into owning my search firm that I started from scratch. I grew it slowly through trial and error, making mistakes and learning and growing. Then I received a call from an organization I had never even heard of: Sanford Rose Associates. I remember the call to this day from a woman with a very upbeat and pleasant personality who asked me the question, “Are you open to the possibility that this could bring value?”
As an executive recruiter, I ask that question literally hundreds of times, so I sort of laughed when the question was turned on me. I think I joked with her and said something about being a hypocrite if were to say no, and not at least listen to what she had to say. But here’s the funny thing: I told myself that I’d humor her and listen, but that there was no way I was going to move forward on this.
Fast forward to 2020 and here I am five years into being a member of a national search firm. It was the best business decision I have made, and it truly changed the course of my business. Now, there is always the possibility that the opportunity presented won’t be a fit for you, but at the end of the day, there’s never any harm in listening.
That’s my tale. I encourage all of you reading this to keep your minds and hearts open to amazing opportunities that can alter the course of your life in a profoundly positive way. I am thankful I did.