Yesterday I met a new friend. An SVP in the fashion space. We were loosely introduced, just to talk career stuff.
We hit the ground running. He told the story of his first hobby (BMX) which led to his next hobby (DJing), where he gained some notoriety. He then made an influential group of friends, accidentally charming his way into retail and fashion.
He quickly became highly competent at each new thing, which then snowballed into something else. Every forthcoming opportunity was a little bigger, albeit different than expected, and he ran with it.
He was forced to add skill sets at every turn, purely because that’s what the next job demanded… and the next job was simply too exciting to not level up for.
This career story is resembles a turbine of positivity: his enthusiasm drove competence, which drove wins, and each win made him grateful, which drove more enthusiasm.
Fast forward to today:
He’s got 2 young kids, and just discovered his house needs an emergency renovation due to mold discovery. Not an ounce of worry in his voice. “I still can’t believe we were able to get this house… and it’s so fun being a dad.”
His wife just lost her job. Not a single negative comment about the “job market”. “Fashion, music and art are everywhere, and all connected. The possibilities really seem endless.”
He recently moved his family here from NYC. Not a single cynical comment about LA or its people. “I’m currently on my balcony because there’s construction happening inside. This view is so beautiful and we love our neighborhood.”
Some people graduate school, map out a plan, and execute.
Other people grow up with an irresistible urge to charge in a certain direction, for no other reason than they can’t NOT do it.
You ask them what they’re good at, and they answer with what excites them, and you just know the two are the same.
"What feels like play to you, but looks like work to others?"
