How Getting Fired was the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me!

Those famous two words that no one wants to hear, “Your Fired” became one of the greatest gifts of my life.

I went from working 24/7 building someone else’s vision to finding my own. I was officially thrown out of the rate race of Corporate America and forced to reinvent myself. As I look back, almost 18 years ago, I am certain that I would’ve still been in Corporate America living someone else’s dream if this magical day hadn’t happened for me. Thank God it happened in my early thirties. I feel bad for people that devote their entire lives to the rat race and get forced out towards the end of their careers. However, I KNOW that’s it’s never too late to reinvent oneself and it’s never too late to chase your dreams and make them come true.

The biggest advice that I could give anyone who is starting their career and thinking about starting their own business is;

• Make sure that you uncover your Y, including what you truly enjoy and are naturally great at. If you don’t know the answer to this, read my book CLUES and follow the exercises

• Find an internship in the area that you’re interested in even if it’s a non-paid one

• Spend at least 2 years in the corporate world, 5 MAX

• Learn as much as you can, and build successful long term business relationships with as many people as possible

• Make sure you attend every crucial industry event

• Network and learn from role models who have already achieved what you’re looking to accomplish

• Create a “niche” for yourself and put together a business solution for a common problem in the market place

• Make sure that you have at least one years of expenses saved

• Put together a clear and concise business plan

• GO FOR IT and NEVER LOOK BACK

As an example, and as mentioned in my recent book, “CLUES” I love networking and helping people. I was naturally drawn to the medical field based on some earlier life experiences (CLUES). I spent the first 11 years working in Corporate America in Medical Laboratory sales. When I was fired, I saw a need in the Laboratory M&A sector. There were several “business bankers” who sold Laboratory’s but none who had grown up in the industry, and, none who held the relationships that I had formed during my 11 year tenure in the industry. This would be the beginning of an incredible 15 year journey, building my own company, Advanced Strategic Partners.

I am proud to say that ASP was awarded “company of the year” in 2022 by Financial Review Services. We have successfully completed dozens of projects and closed in excess of $2B in laboratory transactions. We work as a “niche” boutique M&A firm. In 2022, we made another significant enhancement and partnered with Take Charge LLC. This organization was formed by the prior CEO of the largest laboratory in the world. As a result of this partnership, we are now positioned to provide all of the needed services that our clients may need. For example, we provide Valuations, strategic planning, board level assistance, operational guidance, and, the full M&A services.

In addition to running a successful M&A firm, I am a Global Ambassador for The Start up Studio, founder of The American Interns, author of The End Game and CLUES.

For anyone who has ever been fired, start looking at it as a blessing. You haven’t been rejected, you have been redirected. Congrats on being released from the corporate rate race, and, realize that something bigger and better awaits you.