A Voicemail
I was out to dinner for my mom's birthday dinner tonight.
And when I got back home I had seen that I'd missed a call.
There was a 40-second voicemail left by Dan Muse, current coach of the US National Team Development Program U18's.
I started listening to it and as he's telling me they have completed their entire interview processes and offered the position to someone else...
I'm smiling ear to ear as I'm being told that this door is now closed.
It was such a moment in time.
I smiled because it was such a WOW moment. He could work for Zappos but this coaching thing seems to be working out just fine for him.
I know everyone values their time and it's easy to ignore an email. (I've sent over 100 to coaches since March, I know.)
There is a reason that some people make it to the highest level in their field.
I've never met Dan.
I didn't get short-listed.
I didn't get passed on after a round of interviews.
I didn't get an email back from a hockey operations intern.
This man called me to personally thank me for taking the time to send them a resume and express interest in the position.
Do you know how many people applied for that assistant coaching position?
A lot I'm sure.
And he will have talked to or left a voice message for every single one.
It might have just been another voicemail to you, but it's one I won't forget.
Thank you for modeling what the standard will be when I'm in a position to hire staff in the future.
Total class. Human element. Treat everyone with respect from the person you offer all the way down to the least qualified candidate.
Thank you for the lesson learned tonight.
Following up: I wrote this piece 6 months ago now. I think about that voicemail once a week. Uncommon has staying power. Uncommon shapes other human beings. Uncommon impacts.