Worst Time Can Be The Best – Huh?
“One day you will look back on this ‘worst time’ in your life as a fortuitous event. Even your worst times have value and can become, in retrospect, your best times.” ~ Andy Andrews, in The Noticer
Has this happened to you?
It happened to me.
Going through something gut-wrenching. Can’t wait for it to be over.
Then months or years later you look back on it & realize that even with the anguish, some great things happened too.
“The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has it’s roots in earth and manure.” ~D.L. Lawrence
For example, I was in college, majoring in Engineering, & received an “F” on an engineering exam. At that moment I thought of myself as a total failure in life. I felt completely lost.
That “F” helped me realize I’d enrolled in Engineering because I didn’t know what else to study. That “F” caused me to search for another major. My search uncovered both Computers & Teaching. I had a long, rewarding career in the field of Computers. And, Teaching is something I truly love…and continue to enjoy even to this day.
I now look back on that “F” as a positive turning point in my life.
Another example…
My second job in the corporate world sounded like a dream job…
- Project manager for a software company
- 25% travel, some of it international
Once I started the job it was nothing like I expected:
- Travel was last minute & often changed multiple times
- I was working 60-70 hours/week, but was continually asked to work more
- After 9 months my travel schedule was upped to 100%
I didn’t want 100% travel & asked the company if they had another job for me.
They didn’t.
The new client had on-site project manager written into the contract. Suddenly my job wasn’t available unless I agreed to 100% travel.
I’ve always believed you don’t quit a job without having another lined up. But, I went counter to that & turned in my resignation letter.
I was flying without a net.
I now see this experience was another turning point in my life. There were many benefits, I:
- Learned to ask better questions, so I better understood what to expect from employers & others
- Discovered a love for travel
- Got my first passport
- Reinforced the need to stand up for myself
- Relocated to a larger city, where I made some good friends
- Learned to take a leap of faith
It was 14 years ago I left that company. Late last year I realized another leap of faith would be needed to move across country without a permanent job lined up. That experience from 14 years ago gave me the strength & commitment to make my most recent leap of faith.
I’m so glad it did.
I’m now teaching 3 classes, my business is growing & I’ve met some wonderful people.
So, what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Bob