Nobody Gets There Alone

This week I had a quick catch up call with a mentee. We had a fantastic conversation about his summer internship and his strategy for the school year upcoming. Afterwards he posted on LinkedIn that the conversation meant more to him than I probably realized and that having someone take the time to give him honest feedback and a practical direction reminded him why he chose the Supply Chain field in the first place.

Seeing that note fills my cup in a way that no amount of money ever could. And it got me thinking about all the people who have done that same thing for me throughout my career.

The leaders who gave me honest feedback when I needed it. The director who saw something in me and handed me the project without a playbook. The people who took time out of their own work to answer a question, make an introduction, or just tell me I was on the right track.

I didn't earn any of that by being the most qualified person in the room. In most cases, I got it because I asked.

That's the part I don't think gets talked about enough. The people who end up with someone in their corner are usually just the people who reached out. They asked a question. They requested fifteen minutes. They bought a cup of coffee and said I'd love to learn more about what you do.

A lot of people never make that decision. They assume the person is too busy. They assume they'll get ignored. They assume they haven't earned the right to ask yet. And I get it. Reaching out feels vulnerable. But here's what I've learned from being on both sides of that message: People want to help. They just need a nudge.

Think about the people who are 10 or 15 years into their careers. Most of them had someone who opened a door, gave them honest feedback when they needed it, or simply told them they were on the right track. That kind of experience stays with you. And when you get further along, you start looking for ways to pay it back.

But here's the other side of that coin. Most of us don't know who needs the help. We're not searching for someone to mentor. We're heads down in our own work. So when someone reaches out with genuine curiosity and a real question, it's not an inconvenience—we actually jump at the opportunity.

Honestly, this is why I do what I do. Coaching and building SCM Career Hub has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career, not because of the business side of it—granted that is fun—but because I get to be a small part of someone else's story. Getting to do what others have done for me is by far the best part.

Here's what I want you to think about this week:

If you're early in your career, find someone to put in your corner. It doesn't have to be a formal mentor with a scheduled cadence. It can be one conversation with someone who's a few steps ahead of you. Ask a professor. Message someone whose work you follow. Reach out to a vendor or a colleague in a function you're curious about.

And if you're further along, look for the person who could use fifteen minutes of your time. Answer the message. Take the call. Make room on your calendar. Share what you know. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to be a few steps ahead and willing to turn around, put your hand down, and help pull someone else up. We all got here because somebody helped us. The best thing we can do is pay it forward.

Until next Saturday,
– Mark