It was June 1991, and I had been at the CPA firm of Ernst & Young in Baton Rouge for exactly four years. I went in to meet with the managing partner of the firm on that Friday afternoon to give my notice. I was leaving to take a controller job with International Paper.
As I informed him of my intentions, he paused for a moment and looked directly at me. He said, “I am not surprised you want to leave. I am disappointed that you are leaving in a log truck though. If you would wait a little longer, you could be leaving in a limo.”
At the time, I didn’t know what to make of the comment. What did this “old guy” (my age now) know about paper mills or what I would be doing. He had helped me develop as an accountant, a speaker, and a business professional. However, he was not a mentor, a coach, or someone that regularly had personal conversations with me. What was he doing giving me advice now?
It was roughly five years later that I could look back at the conversation and understand what he was trying to tell me. International Paper, at that time, was a heavy manufacturing-based organization that highly valued engineering expertise. As such, accounting personnel were mostly considered for supporting roles and not those that would “run” key aspects of the company.
He was trying to tell me to wait for a better opportunity more suited for my background and skillset.
Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
To be honest, up to that point in my life, I had few people speaking into my life. My parents divorced when I was young. There was no male figure in my life. My mom was great at providing, but we never engaged in tough conversations. She had enough on her plate!
I wasn’t seeking wise counsel or advice. I never had access to it, so why start now?
Similarly, the managing partner of the firm had never sought to invest or show any level of care regarding me personally. As mentioned earlier, he provided great technical opportunities, but that’s where our relationship stopped. He had not invested previously to have an open door to speak.
We all need wise counsel at times. We need to seek it out at times, provide it to others at times, and to be humble and sensitive enough to recognize the moments that matter.
Here are some thoughts to consider with respect to both seeking and providing wise counsel:
- Humility serves us better than pride. Remove the weight and burden of trying to do it all on your own. We were created for community. Surround yourself with people you trust and allow them to speak into your life.
- Be quick but don’t rush. Be quick to listen, ask, and learn. However, don’t rush into a big decision. Take as much time as you can to pray, seek, and process.
- Ask before providing. Sometimes people just want you to listen. Sometimes they want your advice. Ask them how you can best serve them in the moment. It’s not about you!
- Dependence over experience: When providing counsel, I always pray for guidance beyond my experiences, intellect, and ability. I seek wisdom beyond my ability when serving others.
I have struggled with all four of those items at some point. I have dealt with pride, rushing, and providing my two kids with numerous three-point plans for success that were not helpful in the moment!
Whether you are waiting on a log truck or a limo, be humble enough to seek out wise counsel and available enough to support others when they approach you seeking guidance.
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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