Corporate life is a game. How one man found his dream job and didn’t sell his soul to win it.

Are you willing to “do”

Find your dream job

Today’s post is a success story about a candidate who went from frustration to a dream job. I couldn’t be happier or prouder of this guy. He worked his ass off, and he deserves every bit of his success. He went from a frustrated fishing guide to Executive Director in his field of study.  #DreamJob 

Several years ago, I was drifting down a river in Southwest Montana, fly fishing with a couple of good friends. This wasn’t a working trip. We all have different backgrounds, and we all work in different industries, but eventually, talk of work comes up.

The three players:

• Angler 1: Played college football and is the founder of his own very successful business. He’s a Ballah.
• Angler 2: Fishing guide: Early 30s, Master’s degree, working as the head guide at one of the most successful fishing lodges in Southwest Montana.
• Angler 3: HR Flunky

Which position would you like to be in for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week? Angler #2 is in the “middle of the boat.”

Angler 2 was our guide for the day; consequently in the middle of the boat. In the middle of the boat, you are the person rowing the two anglers down the river, AKA you are doing most of the work. (OK, you are doing all of the work. Rowing, untangling knots, making lunch, and cleaning the boat at the end of the day.) Depending on the people in the front and the back of the boat, you can be the bitch or the best friend. In our case, we consider Angler 2 a mentor and a best friend. The days are filled with cigar smoking, shit-talking, and more shit-talking. We have all known each other a long time. We have had enough adventures together, you could call us all Brothers. I know these guys would give me the shirts off their backs, and they have.

The conversation

Angler 2 (fishing guide): “I am never going to get out of the middle of the boat.”

Angler 1 and I were both thinking: WTF is he talking about? He is living the dream. He lives in the best trout-fishing country in the United States and is a pro for several great fishing brands. This is the guy who makes paying yuppies like us anglers. Without him, we are nothing but 13-year-olds fumbling around trying to unfasten bra hooks. In other words, without him, catching fish probably isn’t on the agenda. If it happens, it will be because of dumb luck and a lot of alcohol.

I got no skills

Growing up, I dreamt of being in the middle of the boat, but didn’t have the skills, the strength to row two anglers, or the local knowledge. Zero out of three does not get you to the middle of the boat.

But I get it. Angler 2 went to school and post-grad so he could do civic work like his parents. Solid American stock, this guy. He supported his wife while she was getting her master’sdegree. He wanted someone else to untangle his knots and clean up the gear at the end of a hot day on the water.

The motivational speech

HR Flunky: In my most motivational voice, “WTF are you talking about, dumbass? You have a Master’s degree, you can get out of the middle of the boat.”

Angler 1. “Yeah,h dude, you are living the dream. We both wanna be you!” (Seriously)

Angler 2. “I probably could have gotten a job if I found one right after I graduated, but I have been guiding for so long now, employers are going to look at my resume and wonder why I didn’t start earlier.”

HR Flunky: “Dude, you can get a job. You are a good-looking guy (under that baseball hat and scruffy beard at least). You are articulate, and you have a post-grad degree.”

Angler 2: “It’s too late, I missed my window.”

Angler 2 is one of the most positive guys I know. Now he sounded like the hunting dog he grew up with since childhood just died. I was beginning to understand his frustration. He didn’t want to be doing this at 50; he wanted a retirement plan. He wanted to do his civic duty.

HR Flunky: “Dude, I know you can find a job. I will help you. I KNOW you can get a job.”

Angler 2: “I know I can get a job, but I want to use my Master’s degree in my field of study. I don’t think that is possible anymore.”

Angler 2 wasn’t convinced, but over the next couple of days, we continued to discuss the next steps in his journey. Some of his hesitations:

• No relevant experience
• Not sure I can afford to take a pay cut. I am going to have to start with recent grads, and as the head guide, that would be a significant cut in pay.
• I have been fishing for years since my graduation. Employers will want to hire fresh graduates.

HR Flunky’s hesitations

• Does this guy have a suit he can wear to an interview? I have only seen him in fly-fishing clothes and waders, and this stuff isn’t meant to be pressed.
• Will this guy shave his curly beard or even trim it up?
• Here is a video of our civic-minded leader from back in the day. He starts casting at 1:30 and rocks the beard at 2:00.

Obviously, my concerns are easily solvable, but that is what was running through my mind.

HR Flunky’s pitch

“Dude, let’s get on the phone when I get back home. I have an hour-long commute, and we can go over resumes, job search strategy, and interview questions and answers. We are not going to go with your perceived weakness of being in this boat for too many years. We are going to go with your strengths.

“Dude, you have what no one is able to train. You have social skills at the highest levels. The sports in your boat are all CEO’s and rich, successful dudes. At $650.00 a day, they are the only guys who can afford you.” (I was coasting on Angler 1’s coattails)

You got skillz!

“All day long, you are directing C-levels, execs, and guys who run their own businesses and industries. I have seen these guys roll into Montana in their $125K-plus SUVs and sports cars. You taught me what “Long Money” is. You instruct these CEO’s, you joke with them, and you are stern with them. Your voice literally changes when you are in the middle of the boat. You are their friend, their mentor, and their coach. As a guide, you not only help them fish but also help them decompress and deal with their professional and family lives. You can’t train that skill. We can train in civic duties. You can NOT fricken’ train what you have!”

And here is what was holding him back. 

Angler 3: “But who is going to hire that? That isn’t a job.”

It’s not a job, it is THE interview

HR Flunky: “That isn’t a job, it is an interview, and it’s the networking. You have these C levels trapped in your boat for 8 hours a day. You have been doing this full-time for years and have an extensive network of C-levels. Hell, a C-level bought you this $8,000.00 boat as a fricken’ tip! Do you know how many people would LOVE to be trapped in a boat for 8 hours with these CEO’s but wouldn’t be able to carry on a conversation for more than 20 minutes? That skill will sell itself.”

To put this into perspective, how many of us are hesitant to be trapped in an elevator with our VP or CEO for just a couple of floors? How many of us would TELL our CEO what to do, joke with them or get stern with them? Not many folks under the age of 30 could do that, and even fewer would. I am talking 8 HOURS STRAIGHT bitches! 

Putting in the work

Over the next few months, Angler 2 did the work. We got on the phone, he sent me versions of his resume, and we practiced our pitch. He worked on his blog to showcase his passion for Montana and his writing style. 

The truth of the matter is that after Angler 2 completed his post-grad, he continued to guide because he was making a great deal of money. He supported his wife while she was in school, working on her Master’s. He wasn’t guiding just because it was fun; he was guiding because he was taking care of his family and his responsibilities. That is the story we told.  

The first real job

Soon thereafter, Angler 2 (the post-grad guide) landed his first corporate job doing civic duty for the State of Montana in his field. He took a pay cut, but he continued to guide on weekends and made up the difference. He knew that it would be a temporary setback, and frankly, he knew that when he was making great money, he would continue to guide. Catching fish for him is too easy. Watching his clients have fun and success on the river gets him high. He had attained enlightenment. We call him Jedi.

Middle of the boat

When he landed that job, he called me up, and I couldn’t have been happier for him. On that call, he told me I was coming to Montana and that he was taking me fishing. “You are never paying for fishing in this town again.” I didn’t do it for the fishing, but I have to say that fishing with Angler 1 and 2 over the years has been a lot of fun and very meaningful. The three of us make it a point to fish on my birthday every year, and I couldn’t ask for a better gesture. He is in the middle of the boat with us, but it is completely his choice. He can now fish internationally in faraway destinations, and he is an angler, not a guide.

Continuous Learner

Over the years, he has asked me for a list of books he should read, which led to this blog post.  

Angler 2 didn’t stop there. He asked me which classes he should take. Angler 2 flew to New York to take a Facilitative Leadership course, which he swears by. This leader is also sending his team to these sessions. Yes, he is running a team at work.  

The point is, he took the initiative, he had the curiosity, and he did the fricken’ work.

Men want to be him, companies want him with them

Since he started his civic duty job, he has TWICE been offered high-level jobs with well-known brands in the fly-fishing industry. Both times, he turned down the offers. 

About a month ago, he was juggling 2 offers. The first offer was for one of the top positions with one of the biggest names in Fly Fishing. The other is with the State of Montana doing what he loves to do. To find out which job he took, click on this press release.  

Yeah, he cleans up well. Not just the quiet, confident dude, he also has a great presentation layer. And yes, he still guides on the weekends for fun.

Just do the work

The moral of this story is that we all get down on our careers. We have all been at a point where we thought it was over. But it doesn’t have to be. With work, initiative, and a positive attitude/positive spin, it can happen. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what your situation is, things can improve. It’s our choice. A guy that I am proud to call a friend made the choice.

See you at the after party,

HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

Ongoing writing and context live on LinkedIn.

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