Zsquared Almanac – June Edition

Mid-Year Check-In: Casting Lines & Tracking Swells

We’ve hit the midpoint of the year—and it’s a good time to pause and look across the water.

For Zsquared & Co., for the market, and for the search community, the tides continue to shift. As with marlin fishing, you don’t always catch by trolling. Instead, you’re scanning constantly—for the shimmer of a tail, the subtle wake of opportunity.  This month, I’m sharing a few currents I’ve been tracking—and inviting you to trade notes.

Field Notes from the Search

• Retained vs. Contingent: There’s growing interest in hybrid models. Clients want the structure and partnership of retained, with the flexibility of contingent. I’ve been experimenting with milestone-based fees—early signs are promising.

• Candidate Readiness - Signals: June surfaced a wave of “quiet-lookers”—high-quality people open to moving, but not broadcasting it. They tend to show up in low-noise channels, and they respond best to nuance, not a pitch.

Tools, Tactics & Teasers *I’d like your input here.*  If you’re in the business of selling services, what’s working for you right now?

• Are you seeing more traction in small and mid-market accounts?

• When was the last time you successfully broke into a new customer—was it in Q2?

-I'm always testing lures, teaser setups, and figuring out the right color gulp to match the conditions.

- This is an open call to connect—if you're up for an offline exchange, drop me a note.

On the Nature of Search—and the Sea

This time of year often brings inflection points. Career decisions. Big choices. Recalculations- it’s easy to rush to label them as good or bad. However, there’s a parable I keep coming back to—about a farmer whose horse runs away. The neighbors call it bad luck. He replies, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

When the horse returns with wild stallions, they say, “What good fortune.” Again: “Maybe so, maybe not.”

The story goes on—his son breaks his leg taming the horses, and is later spared from being drafted.

The point? We don’t always know how a moment will unfold. A setback might open a door. A win might carry unexpected cost.

I’m learning (again) that resilience, like search, is about perspective. Sometimes, the best response is patience—and presence.

Parting Thought

Half the year is gone. What do you need to finish strong?

If you’re feeling the need to recalibrate—whether it’s your hiring approach or how you’re thinking about your own path—I’d love to have the conversation.

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📬 Want to swap insights or stories? Reach me directly at scotmit@gmail.com