A Schedule with Destiny 

By William Hill

Assistant Dean of Placement

Monmouth University

One day sunny afternoon a few years back, Jim, a recent grad with a degree in finance, found himself baffled by the confusing train schedule posted near the ticket counter at New York City's Penn Station. This was the first time since his childhood that Jim had been in "the City," preferring the casual atmosphere of the Jersey shore. But a lucrative career opportunity had presented itself in mid-town Manhattan, and he was on his way home from the interview when fate and circumstance changed his career direction forever.

It seems Jim had approached an older, distinguished looking man, wearing an finely tailored suit, standing near the ticket booth and sought his help deciphering the train schedule that was confusing him. Jim correctly assumed the gentleman was an executive and probably knew his way around such circumstances.

After a brief chat, and with the train schedule riddle now solved, they continued on in casual conversation. Jim told the man, a Mr. Garron, about the interview that had brought him into the city and began to share his career aspirations. Mr. Garrron, was interested in knowing how Jim's recent interview had gone, and he seemed to express a sincere interest in his career.

A few moments passed and both Jim and Mr. Garron had to leave to board their respective trains. Before leaving, Jim asked Mr. Garron for his business card and asked if he could call him in a few weeks. Mr. Garron, Jim learned, was a vice president of a medium sized real-estate development firm. Jim said he felt the insights of an experienced, successful person might come in handy as his job search progressed. They parted with a handshake.

Weeks passed and Jim was turned down for the mid-town job. Then one day, about a month after the meeting at the train station, Jim pulled Mr. Garron' s card out of his wallet. At first hesitating because of the time that had past and of the casual nature of their meeting, Jim nonetheless summoned up the courage to call Garron. Luckily he reached him in person on the first try. Garron remembered Jim immediately.

In fact, Garron said, he had been thinking about Jim because of an opening in his company's finance department that had developed, but had been frustrated because he had no way of contacting Jim. The call, Garron said, could not have come at a more opportune time.

Well, I think the reader can see where this story is going. Jim is now with Garron's firm, has received a promotion, and is well on his way to a successful career. He even met his fiancé there, a young lady working for an accounting firm that shares the same building as his company.

I think there are several things to be taken from this story.

1) You can just never know how dramatically a casual meeting or conversation can change your life.

2) Of course use your good judgment, but nonetheless, don't be afraid to engage people, even strangers, in conversation. You never know where it can lead.

3) Don't be afraid to ask people for help and advice. Most consider it a compliment to be put in that position.

4) Summon the courage to get in touch with someone who once offered help, even if a long period of time has passed. You have nothing to lose by trying.

5) The only bad action is taking no action at all.