Career Curveballs: Taking the Road Less Traveled

This post is part of a series in which LinkedIn Influencers share how they turned setbacks into success. Read all their stories here.

The moment that most dramatically changed my career trajectory came on a day that started out like any other, but ended as a day seared into history. It was Sept. 11, 2001. I was a partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), living in Atlanta, and working at the headquarters of one of my largest clients, Delta Air Lines. It was there that I learned two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center, and two others into the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania.

I was in a conference room in a meeting when the first plane crashed. After the crash, several of us congregated in conference rooms with TVs and watched as details rolled in. Like most people, we initially thought something went wrong with the plane and that there had been a mistake. Maybe a small jetliner ran off course or perhaps the air traffic control system majorly malfunctioned.

After the second tower was hit and the planes crashed at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania, we began to understand what was really happening. The atmosphere morphed from confusion and concern to shock, disbelief, and anger. I had not processed the events of the morning when I received a call around noon. The CEO of Delta Air Lines, Leo Mullin, wanted to see me in his office.

When I arrived at Leo's office, it was filled with other Delta leaders including then CFO Michele Burns. Everyone was somber. In addition to the tragic events of the morning, the airline was facing real financial issues. They knew that the events of the day were not only going to halt air travel for the foreseeable future, but would likely have a long term impact on air travel demand. No air travel meant no incoming revenue, which was a problem.

I can't remember exactly what Leo and Michele said when I got to his office, but it was something to the effect of, "Jim, we need you to come work for Delta. We need a treasurer, and we need one today."

At first, I was stunned. While I knew Delta had been looking for a treasurer for some time, I was shocked. Why – especially in the wake of the events of the day and financial constraints – would they turn to a consultant, not a seasoned treasurer?

I cared deeply about Delta and its success, but to be honest, I had never considered leaving BCG. I loved my job. I loved client service. I solved problems for a living, had the opportunity to work with a variety of companies and individuals, and travel the world. I was a consultant. What did I know about being a treasurer for a major airline?

While certainly flattered by the offer, I had doubts. But the tragedy of the day necessitated a swift decision. So there, in Leo's office, with only a few minutes of thought, I accepted the position on an interim basis, and was named acting treasurer of Delta Air Lines by early afternoon.

Even in the chaos of the day, I knew I needed to accept the position and do everything I could to help. I knew I would regret not joining Delta at such a critical juncture for both the company and industry.

At Delta, I ended up going from interim treasurer, to treasurer, to, eventually, chief operating officer. While I initially joined Delta on a temporary basis, I realized soon after my first day that there were other things that I loved doing as much, if not more, than client service. I was part of a team at Delta that helped lead the airline through bankruptcy, survive a hostile takeover, and emerge stronger. As luck may have it, that career curveball ultimately led me to Red Hat. Matthew Szulik, former chairman and CEO of Red Hat, read an article about my work at Delta, and called me when he was ready to retire.

At one point or another in our careers, I believe that we all face curveballs, whether it’s an offer you weren’t expecting or a new project that is outside of your comfort zone. It’s natural to question whether we should accept those opportunities. Change is risky and people have different tolerances for risk. While I can't tell you what to do, I can encourage you to not be afraid to take leaps and accept unexpected challenges. Taking the job with Delta ultimately lead me to where I am today, at the helm of an industry-transforming technology company. Accepting that opportunity enabled me to both get back to my roots in computer science and business, and be part of a company that is helping to shape the technology of the future at a time when technology is playing such a critical role in our world.

I think back to the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken." While staying on my clear and established path at BCG would have been fine, I made a different choice. I took the road less traveled and I can say without a doubt, it truly has made all the difference.

Ask yourself: are you taking the road less traveled? If the answer troubles you, maybe it's time to open the aperture and try something new. Maybe it's time for a career curveball.

Photo: Chris Parypa Photography/Shutterstock