Some of us reflect and ponder, did I choose the right career?

I could have been a great tennis player, doing battle with the likes of Nadal and Djokavic, but then reality sets in.

When Michael Lee-Chin completed his civil engineering studies at Canada’s McMaster University in 1976 , he set out to secure a job in that discipline, sending out resumes

He had three job offers-one to be a soap salesman, two, long-haul truck driver, and three, sell mutual funds. He was 26 years old.

He opted for selling mutual funds, and the rest is history. Somehow, one can’t see Mike as a soap salesman.

Michael Lee-Chin built his career the hard way, going door to door in Canada and selling mutual funds. Today he is celebrated, the return of the native.

Starting off as a financial advisor for Investors Group, he then moved on to Regal Capital Planners in 1979, becoming its regional manager.

He got a loan to buy shares in Mackenzie Capital, which he turned into an investment worth C$3.5 million.

The man from Portland, Jamaica, did well and demonstrated entrepreneurial zeal.

In 1987, with money from his stake in Mackenzie, Lee-Chin bought Advantage Investment Council (AIC), which then had holdings of around C$800,000 but he saw potential and bet on himself.

Having seen AIC’s success and having valuable experience under his belt, he established Berkshire Group, which offered financial services including a securities dealership and an insurance company. Berkshire went on to have C$13 billion in assets under management.

The year 2002 was a momentous one for Michael Lee Chin. He bought 75 per cent of NCB for US$127 million and over the next 20 years turned it into the country’s largest and most profitable banking group.

Today, Michael Lee-Chin is one of Canada’s and the Caribbean’s foremost business leaders.

Our Today has partnered with Appleton to form the Appleton Estate Circle, a curated dinning experience where specially invited guests hear from personalities that embody excellence.

Michael Lee-Chin was the first speaker in the series.

WATCH this Our Today video from the event held at Kingston’s Spanish Court Hotel where Michael Lee-Chin speaks about his early days and those first job offers:

Fortune favours the brave.