Career trajectory is significant to everyone, including myself. Wanting to have your resume (or CV) that shows you on an ‘upward’ trend gives you the feeling of momentum and the satisfaction that you are moving forward in your career - more extensive jobs, more money, and more opportunities. But there will come a time in your career when you are asked to take a lateral step or even a small step backward, and in those moments, it’s straightforward to say ‘no’ or push it away because it may ‘feel’ beneath you. However, I learned a valuable lesson that propelled my career forward during these moments, and this lesson was a simple run-of-the-mill lunch.
The lack of a ‘formal’ education for me throughout my career is what I always felt would hold me back. I wasn’t trained in M&A, Finance, Public Accounting, or anything close; instead, I was a ‘doer,’ someone who fixes things and, through my experiences, found a way to help develop a strategy, lead, and execute with a team. But the more and more successful I got, the more I realized that my skills needed to be broadened; in bigger rooms and with public companies, I needed to learn these traits quickly.
In early 2000, I was the programming VP for CBS/Infinity, living in NYC. At this time, this was the highest point I have ever reached in my career regarding city, title, and earnings. I was the corporate programmer for one of the largest radio companies in the country, if not the world. However, I did begin to feel ‘trapped’ or ‘stifled’ that my growth would slow down now that I had arrived at such a high level, compared to the hot summer days as Chuck the Duck in Oklahoma.
In the summer of 2003, I got a call from Farid Suleman. Farid was our CFO for many years at Infinity, and he left to join Fortsman Little to build up another corporate radio company called Citadel. This company would focus on medium to small market stations, a vast difference from what I was doing for Infinity. Farid wanted me to become President of this company and promised they would go public at some point, which could be financially significant for me. Very enticing.
While temped, I got stuck knowing that my travel schedule would alter from these blue chip stations in LA, Chicago, and SF to having to go to Scranton, Des Moines, and places I honestly couldn’t have found on a map. Yes, it was a title promotion to President, but a big step down in what felt like a much bigger job, and frankly, it was. I was stuck; I wanted a promotion, but the travel and these places didn’t feel right.
As I was mulling this over and honestly being conflicted, Farid asked me to the office for lunch. I went, and he blunted and asked, “What are you afraid of?” The moment pushed me back in my seat, I thought, I’m not afraid of anything! I was honest and told him that I felt like it was a step backward for me to take the job and leave Infinity. He understood that well because HE left to start this company a year ago. He asked me a life-changing question” “More than money, what do you want?”
I just sat there, almost frozen. I have never thought of it that way. Then I said, “I want to be a CEO/President of a whole company, not just a division, one day; that’s my ultimate goal.” Farid looked at me and said, “Erik, why didn’t you tell me that? Just ask me how to do that, and I’ll help you.”
Stunned and speechless, I said, “You're right; I should have just asked.”
Our lunch continued about what it means to be a CEO, President, and running a company. At this lunch, he told me he planned to take the company public sooner than he initially indicated. I asked then and there, “Will you teach me the process, how to do it, and what it entails?” He promised to have me in every meeting and coach me every step along the way.
I took the job within a week.
Several months later, after many meetings with bankers, talking about money at levels I had only dreamed of, standing on the balcony of the New York Stock Exchange, Citadel went public. It was a moment I’ll never forget. Not only had I never thought I’d be standing here at any point in my life, the least of which was helping take a company public, one where I had done the work to help us get to this point.
That lunch was life-changing.
Since that moment, every job I took was a full-blown career change. I went from Satellite Radio, To Broadcast Syndication TV, Television Studio development, Cable Networks, and most recently, a Sports Leauge. At every turn, I talked to the CEO or Chairmans of companies that wanted to hire me about what I wanted to “learn” or “grow” if I were to pivot my career. To a person every one of them loved the fact that I was honest and willing to lean in, learn, and bring my expertise to a new industry.
When I started at Citadel, I created a list of where I needed to grow and what I needed to enhanse in my skill set. Once I was clear and honest about my growth areas, it was easy - I just asked about learning those with career changes. I often think about what could have happened to my career trajectory had I learned this at a much younger age.
You hear all the time, “Just ask for what you want,” and so many times I have seen this become interpreted as how you can get a raise or promotion - but to me, I look at this in a very different way. How can you diversify yourself? Can you take these moments to ask for ways to further your skills and career, even if you do not know how that may pay off down the road?
I’ll never go into another job or consulting gig without trying to see what I can learn from this process and how I can learn from that company or client. It’s something that they don’t teach in schools, and I wish I knew sooner. Ultimately, Farid was true to his word and changed my career. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget and try to pass on to young executives and companies I work with.
Get the courage to ask for what you want; remember, it may be about something other than money; you never know what that answer may be.