It is the most amazing feeling in the world when you hear that you were successful in your application for that new job.
I will never forget one of the most significant days in my life…. When I said NO! I just got back from living in the UK for 2.5 years. I was back living with my parents: 26 years old and full of my new found wisdom after living on my own abroad. It was TERRIFYING! I cried for days and daily called my friends and boyfriend asking them to think what I could do to get back there.
I also decided to go and apply for a job, I went off to the Employment Agency I worked for before leaving for the UK. I got an interview and a few days later I was notified that I had the job. At this stage, I had no idea wheat the role was, only that I had to show up at SANLAM on a specific day and time. I arrived there as requested and walked into a room with around 200 other candidates. They proceeded to tell all of us how lucky we were. We had received the opportunity to start training as Call Centre agents for a new product they would be launching, we would form part of a new 500 seater Call Centre. But instead of feeling relief and excitement, my heart sank into my shoes. I stood there thinking: “I can’t. I can’t. I just simply can not go and sit in a windowless room with 500 other people”.
I waited till the room basically emptied and I walked up to one of the women who presented on the morning. I knew she was a representative from Kelly recruitment. I had a dream that was bigger than my fear and I thanked her for the opportunity – the offer of employment. But, I said I just simply could not work there. We walked out of the building and she asked me a lot of questions. I was relaxed, relieved, happy…and I was proud of myself that I was able to make such a tough decision. We were walking and talking and eventually ended up at her car where we stopped to ask me about what I wanted. One of the main questions was: So what is it that you really want to do? My Answer was simple, yet unclear: “I am not yet sure, but I know I want to do something with responsibility, accountability and something I can really sink my teeth into.”
When we were ready to say goodbye she told me she was the Branch Manger for the Bellville Branch and that she has been looking for a Recruitment Consultant, but that she was just not finding anybody who wanted the responsibility, accountability and drive she was looking for. There and then she asked me if I wanted to become that Recruitment Consultant.
This was by far the most significant decision I have ever made in my life. It probably changed the entire course of my life.
Saying NO that day led me to everything I am today – it empowered me. Yes, it was incredibly scary, but I simply could not let my soul die by working in that 500 seater Call Centre.
Saying NO was the BEST and SCARIEST decision I ever made, but that also led me to eventually meeting Karl Westvig which resulted in a relationship that now spans over 21 years. I simply had to do what was right for me!
Saying NO was saying YES for me.
