017: Doors Don’t Open Themselves

I’ve been living in leadership mode lately, both as a mom of a brand-new high school freshman and as a leader of leaders preparing for our annual retreat.

What started as a “life lesson” talk with my daughter, Scarlet, quickly crossed over into the same theme with my leadership team: looking for the right people to invest in and develop.

With Scarlet, my goal was simple: to teach her that her choices, now as a high schooler and a brand-new employee (she just applied to be a birthday party host last week!), carry more weight than when she was younger. Her actions are like keys. They either open doors to her future or lock them.

And at work? It’s the same thing.

A few years ago, I watched a young employee make a decision I’ll never forget.

We were slammed. Everyone had more than enough to do. This employee could’ve clocked out right on time, and nobody would’ve batted an eye. But instead, they noticed a mess that wasn’t “theirs” to clean up, and they jumped in anyway.

No extra pay. No complaints. Just quiet action.(And let’s be real - quiet action is rare. Most of us at least sigh dramatically first. 😉)

Fast forward: when a new position opened up, guess whose name came up first? Yep. Exactly. That one small decision opened a door, and the leadership team never forgot it.

That’s the thing about decisions: they’re really doors.

Some swing wide open into new hallways of possibility. Others slam shut and keep us stuck.

Here’s how it plays out:

• Saying “that’s not my job”? 🚪Closed door.

• Offering help before being asked? 🚪Open door.

• Keeping score of who owes who? 🚪Closed door.

• Giving first, even in small ways? 🚪Open door.
  

The funny thing is, those open-door choices don’t usually pay off right away. But over time, they build trust, credibility, and momentum. And those are the exact things that lead to bigger opportunities, better pay, and long-term growth.

So here’s your fix for this week:

Ask yourself: “Is this choice opening a door…or closing one?”

Because the hallway of opportunity is endless if you keep choosing to open the next door. Opportunity’s knocking. Open it, -Casey

🎯Real talk - Every manager knows this moment:

It’s 9:00 p.m.

Half the staff is already out the door.

The chalk bucket is upside down, the lobby looks like a Goldfish cracker crime scene, and parent emails are already lighting up your phone.

Who do you remember? The one who grabs the vacuum, not the one who grabs their keys.

That’s the difference between being on the schedule and being on the list for the next opportunity.