When I think back on my career path, I’m often reminded of Sliding Doors, the Gwyneth Paltrow movie. In the movie, 2 vastly different scenarios play out in her life, with very different paths unfolding based solely on whether she catches the train that day or not.
As an executive leadership coach, I work with leaders every day as they face their own sliding door moments. They come to me seeking deeper fulfillment and greater meaning in their work. We explore options and perspectives, and we confront barriers and doubts. Ultimately they move forward in a new direction with greater clarity and confidence, choosing the next turn on their journey.
When I reflect back on my path, a few of those sliding door moments come into focus for me.
My first was way back in second year university at Western, a school I had chosen (and applied to 2 different campuses of) specifically for its business program. On the verge of submitting my application to Ivey (back then you could only apply after second year), I had frigidly cold feet. I was intimidated by the caliber of classmates I’d be surrounded by. I felt uncertain about my ability to handle the pressure of the program. I was worried about maintaining balance in my life. And quite honestly, I was scared of stepping into what I wanted most. My second year prof for my “Biz 257” class was in Ivey already, and I asked her if we could have a coffee to chat. A simple conversation, but her reassurance and encouragement nudged me to apply, and I never looked back. (So a belated thank you to Jan Wilson for that fateful coffee!)
After graduating from Ivey, I started my career at the NHL offices in Toronto. I vividly remember getting special access to the “vault” at the Hockey Hall of Fame for one of my licensees, fashion designer Roger Edwards. Roger wanted to see all of the old crests and logos (long before they had been digitized for designers to use), and we pored over hockey history together that day. In that moment, my passion for sports apparel was sparked. Fast forward a few years later, when I was working with Nestle Canada and Clarke Douglas invited me to dinner. Clarke was the President of Roger Edwards Sport, and he convinced me to follow my dream back into sports. That dinner set me on an 18 year path with Roger Edwards, CCM, Reebok and adidas. A sliding door dinner, I guess you could say.
The last moment that comes to mind was another coffee, this time with Ann Schmidt in our Portland adidas office. Ann was on our North American HR team and had incredible intuition. As we discussed leadership, people and passions, Ann shared with me that adidas had an internal coaching program, and asked if I’d have any interest in exploring it. Perhaps the most exciting and disruptive sliding door I passed through, because the answer was yes, and 2 years later, I left adidas to launch my own executive coaching business, Voce Leadership.
We each have linear, predictable and straight-forward paths we can follow. They offer certainty, safety and comfort.
And along the way, if we’re quiet and connected to what our universe is surrounding us with, these magical sliding doors appear. Behind them – curve balls, discomfort, uncertainty. Excitement, growth, opportunity. And often, someone is waiting there to offer us that guidance or that nudge we need to choose that alternate path.
Keep your eyes open for your next “sliding door.” Where might it lead you, if you have the courage to open it?
