Remember the lesson in high school english class when you read The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost? You know the poem about the two roads in the woods and Frost goes through a decision making process to select a path. In the end he chooses the road less traveled, and it apparently “made all the difference.” Our teacher explained that if you always take the same path everyone else does, you could end up with a pretty boring life. This lesson resonated with me. My two older brothers went to Central Catholic high school and played football. I went to the public high school, chose springboard diving for a sport and was involved in theater and music. By the time my HR career got going, I was married, started a family – and we got busy with four kids in the first six years. My days of risk taking were in serious jeopardy. Firmly planted on the road well traveled.
But one day a crazy thought occurred to me. I might know enough about recruiting technology to start a consulting business and get off of the corporate hamster wheel. I was fully prepared for my wife to say “are you crazy?” – but she said “ok – sounds good”. Apparently the choice of two roads will present itself so long as you are paying attention.
Starting and growing The Newman Group was an adventure that I will cherish forever. I have had the fortunate opportunity to work with some amazing people, clients and employees a like. The road less traveled became part of our philosophy. We had a saying “sometimes it’s better to zig while everyone else zags.”
Eventually I agreed to sell the Newman Group to Korn/Ferry so that we could scale the business well beyond my means (not sure if this was a zig or a zag). My role evolved into a business unit executive running an operation double in size. Throughout the entire journey, I always viewed myself as an HR Practitioner, only now I have a whole different perspective. Running a P&L will do that to you. Somewhere along the way I transformed into a business leader, the same customer I used to support as an HR Manager.
Three years later I am back at that fork in the road and its time to choose a different path. I need to be able to spend more time with my family, and that is just not going to happen in a big business leader role. So where to from here?
I will be taking some time off to think about what to do next and to see what opportunities emerge. In the meantime I will be writing this blog daily to share some thoughts, ideas, and experiences from my journey with hopes of providing value to anyone who reads it.
Oh… and I also took the job as the High School Diving Coach for the 2010/11 season – I will be coaching my two youngest!
36 Responses to About Me
Leave a Reply
Check it out!
Connect with me
Great Books
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Jeff Cox, David Whitford
The Art of War: With Commentaries by James Clavell by Sun Tzu, Sun Zi, James Clavell(Editor), James Clavell(Editor), James Clavell(Commentaries by)
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss, Ray Porter(Read by)
American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900 by H. W. Brands
Ed, it takes a brave person to make the decisions you have all along your career, you have been successful all along the way. In my book family always comes first and my guess is that you will be giving those kids memories that will last them a lifetime, not just your own kids, but the others you touch through coaching. I look forward to reading more of your blogs, and wish you the best as you sort out where the next road will take you.
Thanks Denni!
beautifully done, you have always been a good partner and friend. I am sort of on the same trip, let’s talk when you are ready ok?
Denny – absolutely, let’s talk after the Holidays.
Ed, good for you, and for your family. I’m glad you’re looking for some options where you have better work/life balance. No one regrets missing a work meeting, but great plenty regret missing time with their kids–going to their events, or just being there when they need your time.
“It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.”
– Anne Sexton
While you explore your next options, have fun coaching!
Ed,
The pressures of business are similar to coaching a major college football team… I see you as a Bill Cowher, Urban Meyer and Jon Gruden of HCM. Whether it is in the booth or getting back on the sidelines in 6-months or after a year. I look forward to sharing the journey and you will always have my endorsement.
How lucky for your kids and diving team to have your passion and wisdom.
Best,
Rob Bialk
Congrats Ed, I love the work the Newman Group has done. I’ll watch your blog. Great content and I live vicariously through folks like you who take the bold steps.
Signed: Man on corporate hamster wheel
Great choice, Ed and sending your wishes for the very best. A traveler, not long you stood, on a new road! Life is an adventure!
Best wishes as you drop your landing gear!
-Rayanne
Ed, It’s been great to watch your accomplishments and successes over the past 8 years I’ve known you. You’ll be missed in the recruitment industry (“Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in.” Al Pacino in Godfather III). Enjoy the family time! And call me later for great and crappy ideas for your next adventure!! -Jeff
Ed – Congratulations on some awesome achievements in successfully building an growing a business. It’s a tough thing to build a self-funded business from scratch, and what you were able to do in building, growing, selling, and then continuing to grow the business is awesome. Enjoy the family time!
Ed- Since I’ve known you, your achievements have been remarkable and well deserved. You’ve worked and traveled hard. Can’t wait to see what you do and accomplish in the next decade. Maybe in your free time you can think of some niche use for the digital pen. Just found a couple leftovers we can use for demos! Thanks for all your guidance and friendship.
Ed, your road less travelled has always been an adventure and I’m grateful to have been even a small part of it. There have been some incredible successes and unforgettable memories! I can’t wait to see where your road leads you next. In the meantime enjoy being home with the family and coaching.
Well said Ed, you have a way with the written word. Wishing you the best on whatever road you choose! Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Ed,
Love the blog! Nothing like Brando to get the point across. Starting up the dog walking business was such a very sharp zag for me, but it was the best thing I ever did. Now that you have a bit more free time, how about dinner and a few beers one time soon? Good luck buddy.
Pat
Thanks for the update Ed and agree with all others about your charactoer and accomplishments. I’ll always be grateful for the “save” you provided me in San Diego
In the mean time, I was speaking with a CEO recently who took off from work for 3 weeks (well kinda)…only access to the workld was occasional email but no calls, meetings, etc. to clear his head and come back refreshed with new ideas and perspectives. He is now going to require a minimum 2 week subbatical for all his execs to not worry about business and think about life, family, read some books and whatever else comes to mind…it takes at least a week to clear the cobwebs from your memory banks before even getting close to refreshing yourself. It spurs innovation and new thinking…and with you taking 3-6-or however many months off – I can’t wait to hear of the path you are preparing to take next!
All the best to you and the family – Steve
Good Luck with your new endeavors Ed! I look forward to watching things go in a new direction for you!
Ed, congrats on making the move. It will be fun to see which road you end up taking. While you are deciding, enjoy coaching – one of the most rewarding (and frustrating) challenges anyone can take on.
ED, I came across your blog by seeing the article “Recruitment Technology – 2010″. It’s impressive, I mean the content and your profile… I very much look forward to seeing more interesting things here. Season’s Greeting from someone from Shanghai, China.
[...] Newman – The Accidental Entrpreuneur – Ed came out of HR, built and sold a business and consults on HR, in particular technology. [...]
Newms, great blog!!! you were always a road less travelled kind of guy and its always served you well, trust in that fact and it’ll all work out great in the end….
Thanks Pablo – Hoping to get up to CT some time soon – maybe we can get together.
would love to see you, I work in Stamford now so I’m always around… let me know when you come up
Dear Blogger,
I am wondering if you would like to blog about our Product, Subscribe-HR.
We deliver the latest in e-Recruitment and e-HR and are now focussing on Social Media Recruitment. Taking the Complexity out of HR Systems.
Subscribe-HR is on-demand, allowing prospects to try before they buy (30 Days) similar to the Salesforce.com model.
Feel free to view our Tour Video:
http://www.subscribe-hr.com.au/product-overview/subscribe-hr-management-tour/
To take our 30 Day Trial and Look at the product:
http://www.subscribe-hr.com.au/subscribe-hr-software-free-trial/
Or to view some of our customers:
http://www.subscribe-hr.com.au/corporate/clients-and-experience/
Thanks in advance and I totally understand if this is not on the mark in terms of your blogging.
Cheers,
Mathew
Matthew – I will take a look at your site and at a minimum add you to the Mega List of products that I have started.
Ed-
As you know, i’m not one to kiss ass. BUT
There aren’t too many people who I call ” a hero”…but please know you are one of them/mine.
Sometimes there is solace to be found in those who have taken a leap of faith…maybe a step-back to gain perspective…I do, especially, when I can’t take one myself.
Rest assured, that the work that you have done has had an impact…has created hundreds of jobs, bettered processes and has changed many lives. Likewise, the work you are doing is teaching us all what is important. Further, the work you will do (whatever you decide) will surely make a difference.
Stories told over stiff drinks are surely to come for us.
Thanks,
Josh
Just found your blog. I’m intrigued by your journey and look forward to reading as you find your way down the next less traveled path. Trish
Trish – Thanks for reading, and the comment. I was actually hoping to get to HRevolution this year but could not make the weekend thing work out. I am sure we will cross paths soon – perhaps at the FOT Show?
Congrats Ed — you are doing what we all hope to do…be successful and then jump off the tread mill of corp. america and spend time where it matters — family and loved ones — long before we are “out of it”
All thebest paul Marchand
Thanks Paul – hope all is well at Pepsi!
Awesome story Ed! Thanks for the inspiration!
I liked your article on being a good customer. Wd you like to appear as a guest on The Recruiting Animal Show? Let me know @animal or via recruitinganimal@gmail.com — Is your name on this page — What about a link to your Twitter page? Do you have one?
Hi Ed!
I see you are going to be speaking at HR Tech, would love to catch up with you if you promise not to make me too jealous about your current job!
I’m on a new gig with Bullhorn who’s launching a new social sourcing solution and hired me to help them get the word out, could you stop by our booth #844 to see what all the buzz is about?
(advanced preview available at http://www.BullhornReach.com)
Cheers! -Ward
Hello!
I was wondering if you accept guest posts on the Accidental Entrepreneur Blog?
I’m part of a business that does high-end brand placements worked into guest posts on a variety of subjects. My posts don’t advocate or review our clients, rather they are well written informational and/or newsy posts that your blog followers will find interesting. The articles are between 350 to 800 words in length, of unique content that will only be published on your blog, and includes one do-follow reference link to one of our clients, (none of whom relate to the no-no categories like Pills, Poker, & Porn).
If you don’t accept guest posts I also can make deals for paid articles that you’d be compensated for and have complete editorial control over. The article guidelines are similar to what’s mentioned above. After we submit the article, you retain complete editorial control of the article and can make any edits necessary before publishing it.
Please let me know if accepting a Guest Post or Paid Article is something you’d be interested in and if so, how much would you want me to pay?
Thanks,
Nicolas Gallego
P.S. If there are any other blogs you manage that would be open to accepting guest post or paid articles I’d be interested in checking them out.
Ed, congratulations on your new move. I did not know. I received your article about The Right Thing and ADP from a colleague of mine at Kenexa and I share your cautionary perspective. It will remain to be seen how quickly ADP can adjust to the world of RPO which is somehow different than Payroll.They are a formidable force regardless and this is good news for the industry overall. Let me know if you do come to Europe and congratulations again
I love the zigging when others are zagging and the conversation with your wife. So great that she was on board. I did the similar thing when I sold everything, put everything in storage, and now we’re on our careercation. I just didn’t want to conform and wait until we’re retired to create amazing shared experiences with my young family.
And everyone who I know who has done something similar – no one regrets it. We’re trying to blog regularly at niufamily.org for our friends, family, and our daughter. She’s only 1 and won’t remember anything, so hopefully this will be a gift to her when she’s older.
Hey, Ed. Hope all is well….
I wish I had come across your contact info via an event other than Tom B’s passing but I’d love to catch up. Not sure if you are still in the area but, regardless, give me a holler and maybe we can grab lunch one of these days or, worst case, schedule a call to chat…would love to reconnect, been a long time….
Feel free to ping me at michaelsbrode@gmail.com if interested, stay well….
Best,
Mike