Those of you who are friends, already know this. The rest of you are probably new to my blog.
Over the past year, I have been recruited no fewer than 9 times for other companies, at a salary quite a bit more than what I am currently making.
Every single time, I say, "No, thanks".
It's funny how life works isn't it?
When I was growing up, my goal in life wasn't to be the world's greatest suit salesperson. For years, I worked in corporate America.
I worked in financial services for over 10 years. I worked at a bank and then Merrill Lynch and Charles Schwab.
During the start up internet boom, I made the jump to start up tech companies. I worked at one that is still around but very very small and another went out of business entirely.
After the start up bust, I moved to another high tech company, completely different product/service offering than I had been doing.
At every single job, I was frustrated. I felt like I was working well beneath my abilities. I absorbed every bit of information that I could, but still, I couldn't get ahead. No matter what I did, I was never selected for the big projects. I was always passed over by men. (The company that I worked did a ton of work with the military. I had engineers at the Pentagon and in the Towers during 9.11. This company was very old school and only had about 30% women on staff, and those women were primarily in HR).
The straw at the last company was finding out that a guy with a high school diploma and less experience was making the same amount of money that I was. To pour salt on the wound....I hired this guy. I had 10 years experience and an MBA.
When I found out, I left within a few months with no job lined up.
I look back now, 11 years later and realize that everything I went through was to put me where I am today.....at the helm of a company that has been growing at over +150% for the past few years.
At the time, I didn't know it. I never saw myself as a business owner or entrepreneur.
When I worked at those other companies, I had no idea how valuable those experiences would be in building my own company. In those positions, I'd learned about handling and investing money. I learned how to write code. I learned how to manage projects. I learned how to deal with difficult situations. I learned how to talk to engineers (which is an art form in itself).
Most importantly, I learned where my strengths and weaknesses were. I had strengths that were suffocated under job titles, and I had weaknesses that were hidden under job titles.
They both became exposed when we started this company. I wouldn't have it any other way. I know what I'm good at. I know what I'm BRILLIANT at. I know where I need to hire people to handle those things that I'm not at all good at.
Where you are now isn't where you will end up. It's a small piece of the pie. If you have BIG dreams and want to make them real, that means taking BIG risks. Not everyone is comfortable doing that.
The way I saw it, when I left the other company, I had hit rock bottom. I was an emotional mess.
BUT.....when you are at the bottom, there's only one direction you can go.
I had a level of desperation that I had never felt before. I was going to make this new company work and blow away everyone. I have a survival mechanism that if it could be tested....it would probably be off the charts.
I haven't felt that level of desperation again.....until now.....in a different way.
It's not a chip on my shoulder. It's a matter of wanting something so bad, you're willing to do things that few other people are willing to do.
Like my job, I look back now,10 years after starting triathlon and realize that every thing that I've gone through has put me where I am today, heading to the starting line of the AG National Championship.
THAT'S how I feel about qualifying for the AG World Championships.