“What’s the kindest thing anyone’s ever done for you?”
I got that during Q&A interviewing a candidate for our Associate Financial Planner.
I had never been asked that before, but they say your first answer is usually the right answer.
And after a couple of months of meditating on it, I’d have to agree.
Here was my reply.
Newly minted advisors at big brokerage firms are fresh meat for senior advisors.
They swarm the newbies hoping to recruit cheap labor.
I knew I wanted to start my own thing, so hitching my trailer to someone else was never a consideration, except…
…after my first 12 months, I closed no one except my parents. I was broke, on the verge of divorce and doubting everything.
So out of desperation, I started exploring the possibility.
After talking with 3 different senior advisors, I sat down with my Branch Manager at the time, Kevin Kitchin.
Kevin Kitchin was one of – maybe even THE – kindest, most generous and forthright leaders I’ve ever worked for.
His employees’ success was prioritized above everything else, but he wasn’t there to mother you. He wouldn’t hesitate to tell you like it is.
Frankly, he’s the person I aspire to model leading my own team.
“So Rick, I’ve heard you’ve talked to Dan and Ian and Steve. How do you feel about teaming up?”
“Well, uhh, you know Kevin, I don’t REALLY want to. I’ve always wanted to build my own thing, but I’m not sure I have a choice.”
“Okay. And why is that?”
“I mean I’ve been cold calling my ass off for a year, but I haven’t closed squat. I’m about to go all commission and…well… I’m just at the end of my rope.”
“Well, Rick. You wanna know what I think?
My voice cracked and I blinked deliberately to displace the tear that was forming. “Yeah?”
“I don’t think you should team up. I know the people that should and you’re not one of them. Don’t take the easy road. That road’s not yours to follow.”
If life boils down to a few critical moments that’s one of them.
If Kevin had told me to team up instead, I would have. And my life and business would have taken a completely different path.
It’d be ANOTHER 6 months of crickets, sleepless nights and even a Performance Improvement Plan.
But through it all, I never stopped to look back ever again.
He was right. The easy road wasn’t mine to follow.
Thanks, Kevin.
