2023: The Nightmare - Part 4
Don't discount your intuition; it's decades of experience in the form of a whisper.
Back in March, I began a series on the lessons I learned in 2023, which was an abysmal year. (Read part 1 here, part 2 here, and part 3 here…)
Today, I’m back with part 4 of 4. I write about topics like this weekly; be sure to subscribe!
If It Doesn’t Make Sense, It Likely Doesn’t Make Sense
The Challenge:
A member of our leadership team and our only marketer departed after less than a year in the seat.
The 1st Lesson:
First, during the interview process, it became clear that this person’s responsibilities outside work and ultimate goals and desires for their life were not conducive to full-time employment. I felt this deeply. But at the time, they were “100% sure” they wanted the role. And they were a great fit! But here’s the deal: If it does not make sense, it does not make sense. And this did not make sense to me. And I ignored that voice.
I tend to dismiss my gut feeling too often. I’m definitely a “numbers guy,” and I think that makes me skeptical of anything that’s not “empirical evidence.” Alas, when I’ve gone against my gut, especially when hiring, it’s burned us.
The 2nd Lesson:
Time and again, our organization gets better when someone leaves. In fact, we once sat down and listed all departures for a multi-year period, and the result 6 months later was better every time, except once, and even that was questionable. Departures force you to ask the question, “How will we do this differently and better this time?” It’s actually a freeing feeling, because the “bridge is burned.” There’s no going back.
What I Do Differently Now:
Our company culture has shifted towards a mindset of people leaving being an opportunity to improve.
Sure, no one wants to lose great people. And we rarely lose great people. But even losing a C-level team member can be painful, mainly because it means covering for them and training their replacement is time-consuming and can be frustrating. But our mindset now is that the pain will pay off.
Wrap Up:
Thanks for sticking with me through this series. When I started it in March, I thought it would only take a few months to finish. But so many great topics popped up along the way that I kept pushing these out!
I hope sharing my 2023 struggles allowed you to pick up a few things along the way. If you’re in the midst of a challenging time, know you’re certainly not alone. We’ve all been there many times. Keep pushing forward, looking for joy in the small things along the way, and, as my grandmother used to say, “This, too, shall pass.”
Thanks for reading this post. I appreciate you. In return, please share this with those you know who may be interested.
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Things I've Enjoyed Lately: I’ve been posting more videos on social media lately. It’s so fun to learn how those platforms work and the variety of people on them. My recent post breaking down the cost ($300M) of the “Trump Ballroom” blew up on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Odd, because I felt the post was right down the middle from a political perspective. Turns out, I pissed off both sides! If you use either of these platforms, pop over and check out the comments. They’re gold!