Page 49 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF HILLARY CLINTON

existing role. Yet, after a two-hour phone conversation, Bob
convinced me to at least come to the firm’s headquarters in
the greater Washington, D.C., area and interview for the
job. So I said to myself, “What do I have to lose?” Once I
learned more about the job, I realized that this role was a
bit over my head, as it involved taking the lead on some
major human resource initiatives; in one way this would be
exciting, yet nothing I had ever done had had the scope and
responsibility that this job would entail. Then, at the same
time, another company in Chicago, Standard Oil (as it was
at the time), was trying to recruit me to take a job at its
headquarters heading up one aspect of its recruiting. I had
done recruiting before and was very confident in that com-
petency area. And I loved Chicago and thought that it
would be a fun city to live in.
Over the course of several weeks, I went back and forth,
now with two job offers, from Fairchild and from Standard
Oil of Indiana, to consider. I had three choices: stay in my
existing role in Indianapolis or take one of the other two
jobs. The Midwest was near and dear to me, and I had
strong family ties and friendships there. Yet I realized that
while it was nice and comfortable, I had never really had
that “stretch” job, one in which I would immerse myself in
something new, learn, grow, and broaden my own business
and leadership perspective and muscle. After many conver-
sations with my friends and family and with myself, I had
an awakening moment, realizing that sometimes staying in

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