Burning Bridges.

Hello everyone.

Well, my last blog certainly caused a bit of furor, especially from those who knew exactly what it was about. I do admit that I enjoyed the excitement, but those experiences do remain with you (good and bad). I still get calls and emails regarding that situation on a daily basis. All good though.

So what to talk about now? Burning bridges. Or not burning bridges.

Very recently I spent time at an organization that was the first one to hire my fresh face out of college. Potential business there, yes, but also spent time catching up with many of the people who interviewed me back in the summer of 1996. Boy, it felt like coming home. What was even better was that my work was remembered (for the good) since I left the company in 1998. That's 12 years ago, and since then I moved twice, went to law school, got married, had kids and worked in a variety of jobs. But they still remembered, and they also remembered my departure, and many of them had kept up with my career through indirect measures.

So when I visited there, there wasn't a lot of explaining to do about what I've been up to over the years, and we all really wanted to work together again. I cannot imagine that the experience would have been the same, or would have even happened at all, had I burned my bridges at the organization.

Another example is that I have lunch with at least three to five of my old bosses on a semi-regular basis. For a variety of reasons I am no longer working with them, and in many cases they've moved on themselves, but had I burned those bridges, not only would I be deprived of their mentorship, connections and insights, but I would be without their friendship.

Do I or did I get frustrated with the companies I worked for? The bosses I've had? Sure, but then again who doesn't?

But it's about constructive resolution of those problems, or coming to terms with the fact that I may not be right even thought I'm emphatic that I am (which happens many times, just ask my wife). Or having an outlet that allows you to take out your frustration on a "real" punching bag, or friends/family to discuss problems with.

Trust me, in my business, as in many, if you hauled off and punched your boss, or if you trashed your former employers, you'll "never work in this town again." Or, with today's technology, you'll never work in this country again.

And yes, there are exceptions to the rule. I have lived that exception and so have many of you.

But next time, when you are upset, angry or frustrated with your working experience, ask yourself "is it worth it to burn the bridge?" Really think about it. If you choose the right path, perhaps you'll have the opportunity years and years later to "come home" as well.