When my daughter, Katy was looking for colleges, she started out with one college in mind, and she didn’t want to apply to any others. She was convinced that The University of Texas was the only school for her, and it didn’t help that I am a fourth generation University of Texas graduate. I had been indoctrinating her with Longhorn ideas, spirit and paraphernalia since before she was born. Even though I would have LOVED for her to go to UT, I still thought that applying to just one school seemed very restrictive and short-sighted. She and I fought bitterly, until the day we met Ms. Shelly.
Shelly Humbach of Humbach Education Consulting is a college consultant who helps families like ours; Shelly speaks “teen” and she bridges the gap between Teen Wants and Parent Expectations. She agreed with me that applying to one school was restrictive, but she didn’t agree that the University of Texas was all that wonderful. “They are very stingy with their money!” she said.
Shelly led Katy through a Discovery Process that included an ideal list; what did Katy want from her college experience, what did she want to study and what kind of climate did Katy like (she is cold when it is 70 degrees out!). The two of them created a vision for her ideal college experience, narrowed the list down to the top 5, and sent us off the visit the campuses. Wouldn’t you know? UT did not make the cut.
Does this process sound familiar to you, my loyal readers? It should!
I have many times been brought into a company where the C-suite is arguing bitterly over a potential hire; they all have great ideas, but they can’t agree on how that vision should play out. I always begin with a Discovery Meeting about what they want and need, the vision for the role, and how that role will contribute to the goals of the organization. And often, I am the one that helps bridge the gap for the interview team; after all, I have a 91% retention rate for employees after a year.
Katy will be a sophomore at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, and that school is perfect for her! She loves the size, the location, the climate, the people, the curriculum. It had direct entry nursing, small classes, and she can converse in Spanish with her Uber drivers! The University President is an expert in infectious diseases, and they rolled out their Pandemic plan for this fall in April. The plan has been a template for other colleges to implement, just another sign that we chose the right place for us. And yet, Katy would never have looked at this school if it hadn’t been for Ms. Shelly.
We held out until we found the right fit. We never settled for second choice, and the outcome was beyond awesome. I advise my clients to do just the same; finding the right employee for the right position saves everyone involved a lot of time, heartache and headaches too. The right fit will change your life.
As for Shelly? She has forever earned a spot on my team of colleagues.