A Career, an Ecosystem, and Happy Tears

Editor note. This article was written initially October 2016. I am grateful to have had dozens of similar life changing conversations, and one recently reminded me of this article. Enjoy.

"Holly. I accepted the job. I called my wife, then my mom.?I cried like a baby and cleaned myself up, then I called you!”?

?This was the call I received Friday evening.?He is an individual I have been working with towards a new position over the last two months.?He cried tears of joy.?My kids and I call that “happy tears”.?

This call was the highlight of my day.?After 20 years in search and thousands of placements within the medical device industry, there is still no better feeling than marrying the right opportunity with the right professional.?

No matter how many ongoing searches we may have in our firm, I emphasize to our team that ours is a business of facilitating dreams.?These dreams are individual, to both the professional considering a change, and to their entire ecosystem around them.?Family, friends, faith, hobbies, investments… a decision to move from one position to another can impact every aspect of the individual’s life.?These are more than a “fit”.?These are more than a “match”.?These are often the largest decisions one can make in their lifetime.?

As I get to know a new individual, I put aside the current search I have in hand.? Our conversations starts because he has certain credentials that may fit an ongoing search, but my goal of the call is to get to know him, for this or future opportunities.?

What are his career goals??

What are his life goals??

Where are the passions, inside and outside of work??

What kind of opportunity best positions him for the growth trajectory he aspires to experience?

If the planets align, and my opportunity in hand logically facilitates these goals, we proceed.?If not, I consider I have made a new friend in the industry, and we stay in touch.?

The individual I reference above had a ten year career with a prominent industry player.?He had moved into new roles every two years, until his most recent position.?He is a serious performer in his current company.?Based on business focus, his role had stagnated.?He was professionally underwhelmed. Career "boredom" is the first glimmer one often sees as a clear sign of time to make a change, as when challenge wanes, marketability can follow. Simultaneously, he had personal reasons to want to consider the location of the role we discussed.?He and his family were many states away from his sister and mother.?His family had personally had their share of ups and downs, the type of ups and downs that are much easier when Mom can give you a hug.?This new opportunity brings his entire family into one state, for the first time since leaving the nest for college.?Oh, and by the way, the new role elevates him to a new level of leadership, challenge, and pole vaults him to a new level in his area of professional expertise.?Happy tears.?

As you consider your career goals, don’t underestimate your ecosystem and the impact a new opportunity can offer you.?The role should resonate with you- professionally, personally, spiritually.? I am thankful for the career I have chosen and the people I work with every day.?Yep, get the tissues.?