The Chance Meeting

I didn’t know that attending a week-long training session would make such a significant difference in my life. Sure, we should all commit to life-long learning and trying to better ourselves. It was so much more than that.

I met this woman, a strong and confident woman who reminded me of my first boss. She projected confidence and presence. We were paired up for the week. She was a global manager from Montana and had flown in for this training. I found myself in awe of her. Her style, her presence, her speaking. It turns out, that week with her had transformed me.

The instructor walked me out on the second day and told me that she was well-known in the industry. He suggested I pay attention to her actions and reactions so that I can take away not only my certification for the class but invaluable observations to apply to my self.

By the third day, she spoke to me about global issues she had remotely been working on from the hotel. It was rewarding to know she was asking my advice. Me. A simple person with half the life experience as she had. But there she was, asking me what I would do. The end of the third day, we were busy working on a module, and she abruptly stopped and stared at me. It took me off guard. “You are intelligent and talented. Do you have a degree?” and I felt slightly embarrassed but answered her, “no.”

On the fourth day, we started our morning as usual. When we began working on our audit, she stopped working and stared at me again, this time pointing her pen at me. “It is an utter shame you don’t have a degree. I could hire you right now if you had that paper. It is all about the paper.” And then she went back to work.

A little while later, she was staring at me again. This time she had a smirk on her face. “You are going to get that paper. You need to establish the quickest path. It’s not necessarily the best path, but it will be the quickest and still effective.” I just chuckled not know where that came from, just out of the blue, we had not been talking.

“This is the school to investigate. Last night I looked and here is the quickest path. You can do this, you know. You are smart and capable. I would love to have you on my team; you’re bright and quick.” I just smiled. Was she thinking of ways to help guide me? Wow. What a compliment. Wait. Oh my goodness, should I do that? Can I do that?

The fifth day came. We succeeded and gained our certifications. What a wonderful experience. We exchanged phone numbers and connected on LinkedIn. It was such a good experience. I felt so regrouped, my priorities felt shifted.

That following Monday, I met with my manager and explained my experience. He encouraged me to begin an educational journey and stated the company would help me with some of it. The very next day I was enrolled in courses, and a week later, I began my journey.

It’s now been one year and seven months since that day. I am half-way through the program and to my Bachelor’s degree. It’s an accelerated program, she was right. Financially and within a timeline that is faster than any others, she was right. I am doing it. I look back on that chance meeting her there. She profoundly influenced me. She sparked a spunk that I have not been able to contain. I am excited about my future. I am focused and passionate.

I guess that’s the lesson I learned. The universe has a way of bringing people into your life to teach you, guide you, and influence you to realize your potential and change the course of your life. I am forever grateful for that chance meeting. Pay attention to people you are meeting. Every single person in your life is serving a purpose. I believe she served as both a lesson and blessing.

#newlife