Solo #3: The Business Card That Changed My Life

I’m recording solo at 9:18 p.m. in a quiet house with a sleeping seven-month-old upstairs, and a baby monitor to my right. It starts as a simple reset, then I clean out my garage and stumble into a time capsule that stops me cold: an old business card from the founder and chairman of Niagara Bottling, the company where I’ve spent nearly my entire career.That card pulls me back to Cal State Fullerton, a guest speaker, and a moment that seemed minor at the time. After graduating with a broad business degree and no real plan, I spiral through job boards and sketchy listings until that card reappears in my wallet. One email later, I’m in an interview for a supply chain logistics role I barely understand, and that “dumb luck” decision becomes an 18-year path in transportation, operations, and leadership.We also talk about the power of networking as a real asset, the surprising impact of early offer letters and pay raises, and why most success stories are way less mysterious than we want them to be. My takeaway after dozens of conversations with high performers is simple: consistency wins. Think baseball: you can swing for home runs, or you can keep slapping singles and let the results stack up.I wrap with a quick family check-in, coaching youth baseball, sibling dynamics, baby-proofing for a crawler, and one invention idea for keeping shoes clean indoors. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.