It was my good friend’s father who used to say it: Write your own script; don’t star in someone else’s movie! I thought it had a nice ring, but more importantly, a great moral. As I got older, I learned to cherish the message even more – be a leader, not a follower.
My style evolved over the years though, and unfortunately, the Hollywood analogy no longer worked for me. Nonetheless, I wanted to keep the leadership metaphor alive so I retooled it a little: Don’t read the map, write your own! Think about it, we all lose our way sometimes, it’s inevitable. Our first instinct is usually to look for directions; to consult some existing framework that might help guide us back on track. But where is the fun in that? Life needs a little adventure from time to time and mine has arrived.
I used to be a high school teacher, athletic director, and lacrosse coach in the greater Montreal area. I was surrounded by culture, wonderful friends and family, and I was involved with sports every day – something I enjoyed immensely. I had a life that saw me wake every morning with a smile on my face because I was content. But contentment, I realized, is not the same thing as passion. That said, I was ready to shake things up.
When my wife got the opportunity to relocate to Vancouver for work, I was thrilled. I supported the move with all my heart, even though a nagging voice in my brain expressed the occasional objection. The move would mean giving up a very secure career and a respectable level of status in the community. We spoke about it at length but ultimately decided to throw caution to the wind. So, in June 2012 we boarded the plane, never to look back.
I expected to face some hurdles but I must admit, I didn’t foresee the black diamond mogul run that I was about to encounter in BC. I did some seasonal work for a movie company, some landscape labour, substitute teaching, and I even did a brief stint as a rig worker in the oil patch for some quick cash – all in a matter of 6 months. Throw in some health problems for good measure and you really had a guy in desperate need of a map, or more accurately, the means to draw one up.
I had long thought about pursuing an MBA but it became clear last December that it was time to take a serious look at what direction I wanted to head professionally. I knew that the MBA was an excellent way to develop skills and tools – particularly those needed to help draw maps in a world whose landscape is constantly evolving. So I began preparing for the GMAT and got involved with a local technology start up to help me cut my teeth in the business world. The rest is history, albeit history in the making.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend yet another world class educational institute, the University of British Columbia, and I feel privileged to be surrounded by an endless sea of intelligence, talent, and drive. It has occurred to me that no map exists to guide one from the gym to the boardroom so I take pride in the fact that I get the honour of creating it. I am sure the path will wind from time to time but that’s ok because I am also confident that the Sauder School of Business will ensure my tool belt is well equipped for what lies ahead.
#MakeYourOwnMap