Every Door You Leave Open is a Door That Can Swing Back Around

Originally shared on LinkedIn, August 2025. Expanded for the blog.

Over the past few months, I've had a steady stream of recruiters sliding into my inbox with roles across a wide range of industries.

No panic, boss... I'm happily staying put. Love my job, my team, and this company.

Promise. 😄

But something about this wave of outreach caught my attention and honestly made me stop and reflect.

Two of those conversations stood out in particular.

One was a recruiter and hiring manager I had interviewed with years ago. At the time, the timing just wasn't right. I took a different role with a different company and we went our separate ways. No hard feelings, just life. Years later, they remembered me. They came back.

The other was a former VP of Sales I had worked alongside. He reached out personally, wanting me to come back and help whip their brand and marketing department back into shape. Someone who had seen my work firsthand, watched how I showed up, and decided years later that I was the person he wanted in that seat for their next tansition.

Neither of those conversations would have happened if I had burned a bridge, checked out early, or left on bad terms.

Here's what I keep coming back to: every professional interaction is an investment. The interview that doesn't pan out. The role you turn down. The company you leave. The colleague you lose touch with. All of it matters more than we think in the moment.

Jobs may be business transactions, but that doesn't mean they can't have a little heart.

Lead with professionalism. Treat people with respect. Do good work and let people see it. And when it's time to move on, leave the door open behind you.

You never know when, or how, it'll swing back around.