Why I Got into LED Lighting: Part One

When I was recruited into the LED business, it was a mistake. I never wanted it to happen. Instead, I had a strong desire to be in real estate. What follows is part one in a three-part series: a reflection of how specific aspects of one opportunity became the reasons I made an unexpected decision to do something entirely different.

Going back a tick over four years, I was at a crossroads. Going through a divorce and moving away from my children, I had the chance to start not only a new career, but a new lifestyle. With the mindset of working for myself, I was determined to follow the family footsteps of becoming a realtor.

With real estate, I saw my grandmother build a successful practice working with friends and family. People were always happy with her, and she was always happy with them. She worked at home, at the office, and in the field. I saw her generate enough cash to rebuild a summer home in the Adirondacks. This was after buying-out her brother to become sole owner of the exceptional property. Altogether living the life she wanted, no one could tell her otherwise.

Now, I didn’t just observe, I participated. There was a variety of odd jobs, mainly marketing, that I was paid to help her with. A kid making cash felt like being a king! Having a taste of what it was, I ultimately wanted more. So, the seeds of my future were planted.

Right hand on the Bible, the first time I considered LED, I was driving to interview with the broker of a high-performing real estate group. Having an hour to spare though, I remembered an ad for a sales position with LED. With some questions about the opportunity but no intention of actually pursuing it, I called the recruiter.

Truth of the matter: supporting my family means more than anything else, so the money had the add up right. Compared to real estate, this meant diligently working odd hours, often waiting long periods between commissions, treating clients like family, and receiving handsome rewards when things go well for both sides. It was all there.

The second reason it aligned well, was an abundance of prospects. This is important for the simple fact a salesperson should have a constant supply of opportunity to sustain motivation. Dealing with rejection isn't easy. We should have a light at the end of the tunnel guiding us through the dark. An ample pipeline goes a long way.

After that, career trajectory factored heavily into the opportunity. This was decidedly favorable! A salesperson's work is never truly finished. We are either searching for clients or nurturing the clients who are with us. A farmer doesn't yield a bountiful harvest by simply planting a seed and walking away. For a person willing to get their hands dirty, so to speak, LED lighting is fertile territory.

Finally, and possibly what mattered most, was flexibility. With three youngish children who are all high-energy that don't hesitate to gang-up on their old man, getting stuck in an office sixty hours a week wasn't an option. Also, these kids having a nurse mom meant balancing four distinct schedules in conjunction with mine. In other words, being able to work for myself, but not by myself, was a make-or-break moment. The moment was made.

I still interviewed with the real estate broker out of respect, and to validate my conclusion. The precise moment came when the LED recruiter laid some deeper truths on me. There was no need to obtain a license, no upfront investment required, and no broker endorsement blocking my path to getting started. It was a no-doubter to launch my career in commercial lighting.

In short, here are the top five reasons I chose LED lighting over real estate:

1] A promising path - the future is bright!

2] Wealth of experience - building from scratch is a fierce endeavor.

3] Making an impact - disrupting the status quo can be hugely rewarding.

4] Changing lives - bringing others along and developing them... eventually.

5] Supporting family - being there AND providing for my kids.

Thank you for exploring my story! Stay tuned for part two, where we dig a bit deeper into why I almost left as soon as I got started.?