What Making Michigan’s Bass Fishing Team Taught Me About Recruiting

I have been a little quieter than usual this past week because I was competing in a large bass fishing tournament for the opportunity to represent the State of Michigan.

The goal was to finish in the top 12 and “make the team.” I finished in 7th place, so I am incredibly excited to have earned a spot and will be competing in an even larger tournament this Spring.

Competitive bass fishing has more in common with enterprise technology and recruiting than it may seem. Preparation matters. Conditions change quickly. Information is imperfect. And when the pressure is on, you have to make a decision, adjust, and trust the work you did before the moment arrived.

The same holds true when a company is trying to hire a hard-to-find Dynamics, ERP, data, or AI professional. The best outcomes rarely come from simply posting a role and hoping.
They come from knowing the market, building relationships before there is urgency, and adjusting when the original approach is not working.

Back at it this week—and very grateful for the opportunity ahead.
What is a non-work activity that has made you better at what you do professionally?

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