How the Perfect Match Changed Everything: From Job Hopper to CEO

Let me tell you something: I didn’t start at the top. I wasn’t some prodigy with a perfect plan or a five-year vision board. I was a job hopper. A class clown. An underachiever with drive and no direction. And yet, here I am — CEO of Career Group Companies, one of the most respected recruiting firms in the country.

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You know why?

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Because purpose isn’t something you’re handed — it’s something you build, brick by brick, decision by decision. It starts when you stop waiting for permission and start taking ownership of your story.

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I didn’t grow up in a home where people talked about careers or success. There was structure, sure — but no roadmap. No one asked, “What lights you up?” or “What’s your dream?” And if they had, I wouldn’t have known what to say. I was just trying to keep up. Everyone else seemed to have it all figured out while I was stuck asking, “What’s wrong with me?”

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The truth? Nothing was wrong with me. I just hadn’t found the right match yet.

The Match That Changed Everything

At 23, I was scrappy. Hardworking. Hungry. But still wandering. I took whatever job paid the bills — retail, sales, advertising, and I even worked at my uncle’s hardware store — you name it. I was in pursuit of the perfect job without even knowing what that meant. I always felt like starting over would be the secret to success — but it wasn’t. And then one day, I landed a role at a recruiting agency. I had no idea what a recruiting agency was, I just figured this would be my next gig or another pit stop.

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But something shifted. I was home.

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Recruiting wasn’t just a job — it was a calling. I got to use my voice. I got to listen. I got to help people. Real people. Not just resumes. I saw their fears, their doubts, their hopes — and I helped them believe in something bigger for themselves. I knew I was destined for great things.

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I really gained confidence in this role. At this point in my life, I realized that I was a true type-A perfectionist, and I knew I was onto something big.

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That was over 40 years ago, and I’ve never looked back.

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Your Story is Your Superpower

Let’s get one thing straight: I wasn’t born with some secret talent. What I had was a voice — and the guts to use it. I told my story. I listened to other people’s stories.  And I cared about the outcome.

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That’s what made me different.

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Most recruiters were just focused on numbers. Fill the role. Hit the quota. I couldn’t do that. I needed the match to mean something. I wanted people to walk into their new job and feel seen, valued, and aligned. I wasn’t placing bodies — I was transforming lives.

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So, I made a bold decision. I was going to build something of my own. A recruiting firm built on meaning, service, and partnership. A company that values character as much as credentials.

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Career Group Companies started with a phone call and a fire in my gut. I cold called the biggest companies in the country and said: "Whatever you're spending on newspaper ads, give that budget to me — and I’ll find you someone better. If I don’t deliver, you’ll never hear from me again."

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No fancy pitch. Just confidence, passion, and follow-through. I’d tell companies that I was a perfectionist with drive, and I would never let them down.  And guess what? I delivered. Over and over again.

This Is Bigger Than Business

This work isn’t just about jobs. It’s about possibility. It’s about saying to someone, “I see you — the real you — and I believe in what you can become.”

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Because people aren’t bullet points. A resume won’t tell you how resilient someone is. Or how hard they’ve fought. Or how much potential is hiding behind their doubt.

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I once interviewed a woman who sat down in front of me and started to break down in tears. I asked her why she was crying, and she told me that she was days away from living in her car. I told her to wipe away her tears, and that I would make her my priority. She went to the top of the list. She had nothing really impressive on paper — but I admired her showing up with courage and honesty. And I knew: this woman deserved a shot. I told her story and advocated for her. And I placed her in a great role by the end of the week.

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That’s the power of belief. That’s what changes lives.

A Note to Anyone Who Feels Lost

If you’re reading this and you’re stuck — if you feel like everyone else is passing you by — I want you to hear me loud and clear: You are not behind.

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You don’t need a perfect résumé or a perfect plan. You need one spark. One conversation. One decision to not be paralyzed by your fear. You have to be your own advocate, and you have to believe in yourself, even if you have to fake it until you make it. Make mistakes and learn from them. I’ve learned more from my mistakes than anything else.

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If you are focused, set goals, and work hard, good things will come into your life. That’s all it takes to start moving. And momentum? Momentum changes everything.

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I built a Career Group Companies from nothing — not because I had all the answers, but because I stopped waiting and started acting.

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So if you’re ready to turn the page? Say it with me: "Watch me."

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Because your story isn’t over — it’s just getting started.

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