Unfortunately, saying thank you seems to be an afterthought more and more. So at least once a month, I will take a few minutes to publicly appreciate someone that has had an impact on me.
This round: Paul Middlin
Since 2008, I have had the pleasure of knowing Paul. There are many things about this individual I could recognize and appreciate but for this post, I want to focus on more recent interactions. As like many, Paul was recently laid off from an employer he had been with for his entire career thus far. As we are no longer colleagues, and I live in a completely different state, our interactions were occasional. And yet, when this happened, he got in touch with me. I think one of the best compliments a leader can have is that people know you will be there… doesn’t matter how long between conversations, what you are currently doing, etc. They know you will be there to help, always.
Paul is now employed and doing great. What I want to highlight is what I experienced during this journey:
- He was open to all feedback. Paul had not created a resume since he graduated college. I seriously feel like I destroyed his first couple versions. To the point, that I feared I was being mean but he just kept genuinely saying thank you and making revisions. He was open, reflective and focused on learning and doing what he needed to move forward.
- He was open to what was happening. How long it was taking. How the response rates were looking. How far along he was getting in the stages. How much (or little) feedback he was getting. He shared it all with me. And because of that information, I’ve been able to help other people set expectations, not feel alone, etc. He put the work in and continuously learned from what we was or wasn’t doing throughout. To the point that I look forward to how he approaches being the interviewer from here on.
- He was open with his gratitude. Even before he got his latest employment, he would send me little messages thanking me for my time, advice, etc. Each time, I would try to deflect because the focus should be on him but he wouldn’t have it. He would restate or even add to the appreciation. Being out of work is extremely difficult and here he was highlighting the positive, recognizing the value, etc. It was honestly inspiring. That even when you are struggling, you can see the people that show up for you.
Paul’s new company is lucky to have him. This world is lucky to have him.
I truly wish him all the best.
Picture from LinkedIn
