Wrong place, right time

Here’s a little story about serendipity. (not the classic rom com about…I wanna say…gloves?)

A couple of months ago I joined a tech community here in Nashville for entrepreneurs. They have all kinds of events for networking and learning and schmoozing, etc.

As my first dip into this new pond, I decided to attend a casual coffee networking event. I put on my business lady clothes and worked up the courage to meet a bunch of strangers. And there were a bunch. Maybe 50? Okay, more than I expected but I can do this…

I grabbed my emotional support coffee and took stock of the room and some slightly strange flags started to pop-up:

• My name wasn’t on the list despite an RSVP- that’s okay, they wrote one in for me!

• Everyone in this room is much older than me. That’s cool! Lots of experience and wisdom to collect!

• Oh. There’s a panel of younger folks. That wasn’t in the event descrip, but we’ll roll with it.

• All of the signage in here is for an organization I’ve never heard of- maybe they are sponsors?!

  
  

At about the hour mark, the fog of my total oblivion is lifting and I realize I am deep into a Q&A event called, “How to Lead Multi-Generational Teams, for people 45 and older "

Yes, Dear Reader, I was in the wrong place.

Or was I?

No, yeah. Technically, I really was.

As a co-founder of a small shop, I no longer lead people. I am not yet in my 40’s (close, but not yet so chill out). But I was here and committed now!

As the talk went on, I realized that, in fact, the universe had conspired to put me right where I needed to be. This was a group of people in an industry not known for it’s tech innovation (landscaping, construction, etc).

They were all:

• basic tech users

• very tech-curious

• eager to learn how to improve their work with the right tech tools

  
  

Guess what we do at Option C? We help people figure out to improve their work with the right tech tools. Hmm. Perhaps I might have something of value to add here after all?

The age factor aside, this is probably not an event I would have ever chosen to attend but that’s my point. One of the great beauties of this life is that just when we think we have all the answers or we’ve come up with some great plan, life has different ideas. Happy accidents. Serendipity. Roads not taken.

Or, in the immortal words of John Lennon:

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”

Stay open. Stay curious. Magic will find you!