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.
I get annoyed with the use of quotation marks where they don’t belong. Apparently so does Bethany over at UnnecessaryQuotes.com, a blog that showcases some of the best misuses of quotation marks. If you want a funny break or have a submission you’d like to make, head on over to her blog and check it out.
On July 1 at 11:20 p.m. from this earth departed one of the most genuine people I knew.
Richard Bedford, to wish you were still here with us would be selfish, for I know you are now in a much better place, continuing the job you started here and did so well. It has been an honor and a pleasure to know somebody of your integrity and demeanor. Your life was one of servitude, positively impacting all of those who came within your presence. You always found the time to provide guidance, wisdom, and encouragement, selflessly leading us to brighter and better paths. Although your time on this earth has ended and this chapter has closed, your legacy will continue to live. Thank you for being you. You may be gone. But you’ll never be forgotten.