Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
“Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of my greatest joys is learning. I learn through books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and experiences. Most importantly though, I learn through people. Everybody has something to offer, something they’ve lived through that I haven’t. I enjoy listening to those stories and hearing a different perspective from that of my own. It’s true that every person is my superior in some way, and I enjoy learning how.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me to always strive for more, to stay true to myself, and always respect others. You selflessly sacrificed so much in order to provide your children with the opportunities you never had. You may not have known at the time, but I was watching.
Dad, one of the greatest lessons I ever learned was the one you taught about never becoming complacent. That no matter how good you are, there is always somebody smarter, faster, stronger…better. You taught me that there’s something to be learned from everybody; that everybody knows something and has experiences that I don’t. That lesson has guided me and opened doors to knowledge and experiences I would not have otherwise had.
Mom, you taught me that nothing worth having comes easy. You taught me that simply dreaming isn’t enough, but that action and determination bring you to your goals. You taught me that setbacks are all part of the game. How you deal with those setbacks determines your future. Because of the work ethic you instilled in me, I refuse to settle for mediocrity.
To both of you, I was watching…
Through all of the times, whether they be good or bad, easy or difficult, you persevered to build the solid base on which I stand today. From your attendance at basketball games and track meets to the sleepless nights working on homework and worrying about me when I wasn’t worried about myself, you were there.
I was watching then and I’m watching now…
Love,
Son
Thanks Melissa for letting me know about this site.
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