Why do I do what I do?
As the founder, leader and director of our company, I’m not sure if I’ve shared why we started Focus Talent Group so with that said, can I share why I do what I do?
It was the Tuesday morning after Labor Day 2009 and I had just returned from one of my closest buddies’ wedding and we may have celebrated more than we should have that weekend. We were in our late 20s, trying to grow up yet hang on to our youth at the same time.
I was in our weekly morning meeting trying to switch my mind from enjoying a great weekend with friends and family to putting my responsibility pants on and providing my boss with answers to an important project launch we had been working on for the last few weeks.
He started to raise his voice as he became frustrated with the pauses that seemed to get longer between my replies.
The next thing I knew my whole team was freakin’ out, standing over me, asking if I was ok.
My body had convulsed so violently I fell out of my chair, onto the floor and my collared shirt and slacks were tightly twisted around my body like a school janitor trying to wring out their wet mop.
I just had a grand mal seizure in my boss’ office!!
I never had a seizure before that but when I came to consciousness, the best way to describe it is as if I had the best sleep of my life. It was such a weird experience.
My brain literally shut down and restarted as a PC would if there were too many apps running at the same time.
Fast forward to a few months later, I got everything under control with my doctors’ help and I had to figure out how I wanted to move forward.
Did I want to continue down this career path that was causing me stress out to the point my body and brain were acting on their own?
I left for work every morning at 5:30am and got home at 7pm. Did my kids deserve to see me for only 2.5 hours each weekday?
Was all of this worth it?
That episode was my first and last seizure and after getting my driver’s license back, getting off of the meds and realizing how much I needed to eat, sleep and take time out for myself I realized I needed to stop trying to be someone I’m not and go after my dreams.
Ever since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to help others.
I realized I needed to tap into that idea and create a way for me to be able to do that.
After some time and calculated decisions, I learned photography and helped couples and families celebrate some of the most beautiful moments of their lives. I traveled around the world and gained exclusive access to so many events and people that I don’t know I would’ve been able to have without my little black box I call my camera.
It was less about the technical side of photography and more about the people, the relationships, the emotions, the in-between moments that I was able to tell people’s story through photography.
Some couples told me they felt closer to each other after their session than they ever did. I’m not sure how I helped them exactly, but I’m glad to know I had a small part in their relationship.
After a 10 year run with photography, as it took a little longer for my body to recover after photographing events, I started to look at the next phase I needed to move toward. There are only so many receptions you can photograph in the middle of the dance floor with drunk and happy guests without some pain the next day, right?!
Then Covid hit and literally stopped our business in the blink of an eye.
I found myself soul-searching again, while trying to find which store had toilet paper, when a buddy of mine asked me if I ever thought about recruiting.
I told him, “No, man. I’m not handing out job descriptions to college kids. That’s not my thing.”
After he laughed, he broke it down for me and took me under his wing to teach me how to build a recruiting firm.
That’s when I started putting the work in, reaching out to potential clients and helping them fill their roles while helping candidates navigate the next step in their career. As cheesy as that may sound, I felt like I finally found something I loved doing.
I talk to all kinds of people all day long. Ask questions. Then ask more questions. I love asking hiring managers what characteristics would make someone excel on a team. Then I love helping people find that next role that will allow them to continue to grow and add value to themselves, their teams and hopefully their families.
This is why I started Focus Talent Group.
To be of service and do the best job my team can possibly do. To align the best companies with the best candidates and the best candidates with the best companies. So everyone can achieve their goals and dreams (hopefully with as minimal stress as possible).
I’m excited for everything we’ve accomplished so far and I’m excited for what’s in store!
Let’s get it, Fam!!
Next Steps:
If you’d like to learn more about our process feel free to check out our Free Guide: focustalentgroup.com/freeguide
If you’d like to see how we might be able to help bring on the right talent to your team, feel free to email Chris directly and we’ll get you setup for a conversation: chris@focustalentgroup.com
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