Dave Grow

People told me I was a shoo-in for business school. 4.0 GPA. Near-perfect GMAT score. And work experience at a brand-name consulting firm.

About the same time I applied, I started working at Lucidchart. I committed to Karl that I would come for 6 months...but then I was going to get my MBA.

I received an invitation to interview at Harvard. Leading up to it, I prepared for all the common questions. I entered the interview feeling confident. I walked out feeling deflated after some inexplicable curveballs. I was still hopeful that my application would be enough to overcome my less-than-spectacular interview.

But, I didn’t get in. I felt sick. It hurt more that my close friends had all been admitted. While sincerely happy for them, I was pained I wouldn’t be going with them.

I was also deeply relieved. Things were heating up at Lucidchart and I didn’t want to leave (but also believed if you get into Harvard, you go). I put my head down and went to work.

The personal and business growth over the last 7 years is more than I could have imagined. 10+ million users. 300+ employees. And the ride of a lifetime.

Rejection will inevitably happen. When it does, keep grinding. After all - like for me - a rejection may be the best thing that ever happens for your career.

#LucidLearning

I started my career at a top consulting firm where the hours could often be long and the workload intense. I remember one day hearing a more senior associate talking about his “non-negotiable.“

His non-negotiable was a specific commitment when he was unavailable for work each week. His manager knew it, his team knew it and everyone was supportive. In my experience, high-growth careers are rarely 9-5, but that doesn't mean you can't set the right boundaries for high-priorities.

For me, that's translated to my kids' activities and specifically soccer games for my oldest son. For a while, it meant leaving early each Thursday so I could coach his team. Now, it may mean reshuffling my schedule, missing the occasional meeting or taking calls from the sidelines before kickoff.

It's not just about the games but the drives. We talk soccer. But we also cover school, friends, and tough topics. On a long drive this week, I turned on speeches from JFK, Martin Luther King Jr. and Churchill. We listened in awe and then discussed, “We choose the moon“, “I have a dream“ and “We will fight on the beaches.“

I don't expect my son will recall me being at any specific game, but I hope he'll remember me being at nearly all of them. That's why it's my non-negotiable.

What's yours?

#LucidLearning