When I was the Director of Marketing at Columbia State Community College from 2007-2011, I really learned a lot, and enjoyed my work, but not my job. I knew that acquiring the skills I was acquiring at the time was what I wanted to be doing, but I knew that the space of application was wrong. I didn't want to be in higher education. Too much politics, not enough pure productivity for my taste.

Fueled with an entrepreneurial spirit from the time I was a teenager, I knew I had to get out, so I was proactive. I interviewed for probably 5-6 other marketing jobs while I was at Columbia State. None were the right fit, which in hindsight was probably proper foreshadowing to me running my own business now.

One job in particular that I didn't get, was a lower level marketing job at a professional wrestling entertainment company based in Nashville, called TNA Wrestling.

They said I was overqualified, but wanted me to come back and meet with 3-4 other members of the team, including the CMO, COO and President/CEO.

They said, we have nothing for you, we were just really impressed, and want you to come back and meet everyone.

I could have laughed in their faces, but I went back and made my rounds.

It went well, but nothing came of it until about 18 months later when I had a business idea about creating a Fantasy Wrestling App. I was able to not only get a meeting based on my earlier interviews, but eventually close a partnership with them and launch a deal that would greatly change the trajectory of my entrepreneurial career and vault me into a headspace of confidence and eventual real success.

The lesson - say yes to every opportunity, even if the result looks to be a clear "no" coming from the other end. The momentum and contacts you are building along the way are worth everything.