Chance Meetings

(From Carol Ross, www.carolrossandassociates.com/blog/index.html)

Keeping open to possibility is something that alot of coaches know about.  What I realized today is that it means also seeing the mile markers along the way.

I'm staying with my cousin in San Mateo about thirty miles away. I've been taking the Caltrain and local light rail that services San Jose.  I missed my connection from one train to another this morning by 20 seconds. It meant that I had 30 minutes to wait until the next train.  It also meant that I had a lovely conversation with an Indian man, former chemist in his original country, laid off biotech work, who is now the security person for that station.

I met him yesterday when he helped me figure out what side of the platform to stand on.  But I was too busy yesterday to talk more than a few seconds. Today I had time and our conversation brought tears to my eyes. The wisdom in this man was more than I had heard in reading 10 books in the last year, countless magazines, and the Wall Street Journal daily.

Find time to talk wth interesting people. You will be surprised at what you find out.

I entered the convention center, a bit later than planned but full of energy, focused on getting to the first breakout session. As I walked briskly, a man parallel to me said, "Hi!" He was waking me up to the fact that there were other people on the way to the same place. He asked me what session I was attending as he had not decided yet.  We introduced ourselves and he told me he was from Mexico.  We parted ways moments later when he chose a different breakout session.

The story continues.  I had a great experience in the session led by Madeleine Homan and Linda Miller on who we are as leaders and how that impacts each of us in coaching leaders. We did work in small groups of three. One of the people in my group enjoyed our connection so much that we agreed to talk after the session for possible relationship coaching work. It was one of the "clicks" that happens between people who know they can create with each other. As he pointed out a easy place to meet later in the day, another man joined us, introduced as the brother of the first man. It was the man from Mexico.

There are no accidents. Pay attention and there will be no shortage of opportunities.