Supply Chain Saturday

A few weeks ago I offered free coaching sessions to my community. No catch. Just an opportunity to work one-on-one with me on your resume, interview prep, or career direction. First come, first serve.

I posted it on a Saturday. By Monday, most of the spots were gone. Then on Tuesday, someone reached out. He told me he had been on vacation in Chicago when he saw the post. He couldn’t even DM me on LinkedIn because we weren’t connected yet. He figured the spots were probably gone. But he tried anyway.

He was one of the last people to claim a spot.

We got on a call and spent an hour going through his resume, his experience, his goals. He had six years of leadership experience, a degree, strong data skills, and a genuine curiosity about Supply Chain. By the end of the session, he told me it was the most clarity he’d had since graduating. He said he had been aimlessly applying to places and this gave him real structure and direction.

And that’s something I see constantly. Not just with coaching. With job applications. With networking. With career fairs. People talk themselves out of the opportunity before they even try.

I think about my own career the same way. I almost didn’t walk up to that Amazon booth at the career fair. I almost didn’t raise my hand for the project nobody wanted. I almost didn’t say yes to building a course. Every one of those moments felt uncertain in the moment. Every one of them changed the trajectory of where I am today.

Here’s what I would encourage this week.

The people who land roles, build networks, and move their careers forward are not always the most qualified. They’re the ones who show up when nobody else does.

They send the message even when they think they might not get a response. They apply for the role even when they don’t check every box. They raise their hand for the project even when they’re not sure they’re ready. They walk up to the booth. They hop on the call. They take the chance.

Most people won’t. And I’m not judging. Life gets busy. Fear is real. Timing feels off. But the gap between the person who shows up and the person who doesn’t is often just one small decision.

If there’s something you’ve been putting off—an application, a message, a conversation, a career move—this is your sign. Show up. Even if you’re not sure it’ll work out. Even if you think you’re too late. You’re probably not. And even if you are, the habit of showing up is what compounds over time.

I’ll see you next Saturday,
– Mark