Thankful For Failing....

You know the feeling of failing at something and the numbness of being so down and out you can’t imagine what to do next? Yeah, me too. It was many years ago but I can recall the pit in my stomach and ache in my heart.

It was my first job out of college. I was given the opportunity to join a management program for a retail chain which was both robust and fast paced. Just what I wanted; or so I thought.  

On paper the job looked fantastic; however, I had just turned 22 years old and was a fish out of water. I was responsible for taking in the overnight shipments 40 miles from my home at 2:30 AM. (I don’t miss that at all). I was accountable for balancing the books, re-ordering supplies, sorting through damages for credit, working with scheduling, and managed a staff of 20.

I was also in charge of hiring and ramping up staff before the holiday season. I was very proud of the new hires I found via creative and unusual avenues before the world wide web, Craig’s list, and social media (ie: paper ads, flyers in customer’s bags, an in-store banner, a table onsite with pamphlets and appointments for walk in interviews, and even sent someone to local schools/colleges to attract talent). It worked! The vetting process I put in place grew a positive and engaging team that I later learned made a significant impact on the stores success. While I really enjoyed that particular aspect of the role and certainly learned a lot from it, I realized after several months that this particular job was not for me. I was falling short of my potential. I was thankful for the opportunity but it was time for me to move on; I was deflated and discouraged.  

To this very day, I can tell you every detail from the clothes I was wearing, the smell of the flowers on the coffee table, to the coffee brewing in the kitchen as I sat in my parents’ home as I sobbed. And sobbed. I failed. I did not succeed. I was unsuccessful; something I was not used to. If I could not figure out how to make my first corporate job work, was there any hope? Would anyone hire me after I only survived six months? Would I hire me? I think I went through a box of tissues that afternoon.

A short week later, I learned of an opening for a customer service role in a call center. I’m good at talking. Heck, I’m great at it! So, I swallowed my pride and applied. I interviewed.  I held my breath and waited…. I got the role just days later and joined Cellular One (now AT&T) where I stayed for almost ten years.

From the passion of finding and hiring the right people that was so gratifying, I took the positive hiring experiences from my “failed” role and offered to help be part of the hiring team for college fairs at my next company. I went into management and re-created our behavioral based interview guides and partnered with HR. Then I started taking classes as Northeastern and attended Bentley University to get my HR Certificate. I ended up taking the lead with interviews through my next few roles. I climbed the corporate ladder with six roles in ten years all the while keeping in with recruiting and interviews!

Several years back, a recruiting role presented itself and a light went off once again when I felt the spark and joy of recruiting. I was there for 5 years before ultimately landing in insurance. Why insurance? Well, we are here to help impact lives when life gets complicated, messy, sticky, anxious; and it's meaningful to help people when they need it.  

If I did not fail I would not have gone down my path and for that I am thankful! I'm thankful I failed in order to learn and move on'; to succeed. Because THAT, is how a passion and a career came together.

#neverlookback #lovewhatyoudo #failtosucceed #onedoorclosesanotheropens