Chance connections aren’t really by chance, they are meant to be!

“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous” – Albert Einstein

Last Thursday I was walking down Yonge Street in Toronto heading for an 11am meeting when I ran into a throng, quite a large throng I may add, of business men and women all suited up with clip boards in hand walking to who knows where. I was wandering what the big occasion was…. was it a tour group, real estate agents checking out the new condos being built, a convention going on I didn’t know about? I happened to walk along-side a lady that was part of the throng and started up a conversation.  We exchanged the usual pleasantries, talked about how great that it wasn’t raining and continued walking along the street. I found out the “throng” had just come out of a company meeting and that she was working on several projects. I asked her how the project was going and what her role in the project was. “Funny” I said to her “I am in fact a project manager.  I know just how it feels working on a challenging project”. Projects, project teams, deliverables, milestones…. kind of language are near and dear to me. She asked me where I work, to which I responded, “I am in transition and looking for my next opportunity”. She then excitedly suggested I run up two blocks to the head of the throng, to meet with the recruiting manager. Not an easy feat in heals and a tight skirt in the heart of busy Yonge Street sandwiched with people beside and ahead of you. Thanks, but no thanks!! I gave her my business card, asked her to pass it along to the recruiting manager and asked her to keep in touch. The latter being the most important. I love meeting people, building relationships and maintaining those relationships. Some of those relationships have become some of my closest friends, trusted advisers and one of those relationships, ended up my husband! So, I don’t take chance meetings lightly in the least bit.

The next day I had an email waiting for me from my newly found friend letting me know that she’s passed my information over to her recruiter. I then got a call later that day, from the recruiting manager himself discussing the future opportunities, company culture, and turns out, he happened to know three of my former bosses that I loved working with! It’s a small world after all!

I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe that things certainly happen for a reason. I believe that chance meetings grow into infectious connections. In a time where we are inundated with noise, information, throngs of people and just our day to day busy lives, it’s so important to connect, be it short and so called “coincidental”. These connections will eventual grow, become infectious, help tie our talents and ideas and ultimately bring us closer to helping each other out. Next time you are walking next to someone, make sure you walk with them, take a moment to say hello and be open to the wondrous possibilities!