I have not done a post in a while regarding my plans for opening a new search firm. Part of it was because I did not want to have my personal therapy session exposed for all to see us. Not really, it was because the conversations were very boring. Maybe if I had a beer or two they would have been interesting enough to post.
I had set a date for November 2006, mostly because that is when my 1-year lease on the office space expires and my thought was that would be the time to be executing the plan, whatever that would be.
The last two months I have been approached regarding two opportunities that would alter the path I wrote out.
The first by a national search firm opening an office here in Minneapolis, they were looking for someone to manage an office. It’s a great firm with a great name but a manager I am not. I do not have the patience to bring people along, to mentor them, and help them develop their skills. There is a big difference in the volunteer, mentoring I do at the University of Minnesota and what this would entail.
During the second interview I politely but honestly explained that I would not be the kind of person they would need. (They knew going in this would be a long shot anyway) The good news for them is that the person I referred to them had her first day on Monday. It’s a great match for the company to have a known and respected local person heading up the venture.
Once the office is set up I will be sure to give them some love here on the blog.
The second opportunity was for a national technology employer who would allow me to work virtually here in Minneapolis. After 8 years on this side of the fence I was intrigued enough to have a conversation with them. It’s a great opportunity but my concern, and they understood what I meant, was that I would get bored easily.
I like (most days) being an account manager, accountant, public relations, tech support, hr, and businessperson. Being just a recruiter and not doing the other things would leave me wanting more.
So I have done it. Yesterday or today a new entity was created in the State of Minnesota. I am waiting on my attorney to give me the word that I can make the announcement. Just in case there is a glitch somewhere.
The company name was a big thing for me. I did not want to do DeBettignies & Associates for three reasons. One, no one can pronounce it correctly (de bett ingz). Two, no one can spell it correctly. Three, what if the company becomes a huge deal one day and I sell it to someone and it has my name attached to it? (That is not the plan but just in case)
A few months ago I sent an email to all of my creative friends asking for ideas. I gave them a list of technology terms and descriptive words like search, firm, recruiter etc. So that when people see the company name it will stick out and there will be no doubt what I do.
When I tell people the proposed name I get one of two reactions and it was equal among my techie and non-techie friends. Either a giggle and a “that’s awesome” or a “are you sure about that?” The second group always came back later with the next response, “I was not so sure when I first heard it but it sticks with me and I will not be able to forget it”.
Mission accomplished.
I received a couple of messages from Franki Durbin this week and the new blog design is almost done. She has done a great job giving me the flexibility to maintain the blog and add a corporate feel to it.
So I am working on the press release this evening and I hope to be able to send it out and post it here before the end of the week.
More in Part 2 tomorrow…
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