Bad news and big breaks
We did this once before, and it worked out quite well. Also, 7 other things worth your time.
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Quick note: Monday is Labor Day in the USA, and we’re taking take the day off. See you bright and early on Tuesday!
Let’s try something again that we’ve done before, and that turned out better than I expected.
About 18 months ago (!) I wrote about “big breaks,” of which I’ve probably had more than I deserve, or even noticed at the time. I suppose I’d define these as:
“Inflection points in life, often unexpected, that lead to a better and more fulfilling path than the one you were on before.”
In March 2020, I asked readers to share some of the big breaks they’ve had in life. The total readership of Understandably was much smaller then than it is today, but we had some very good examples.
One thing that struck me: the number of people whose big breaks came out of something that seemed like bad news to begin with.
Allow me to quote, if I may (these are all edited for space; you can read the full comments at each link):
“Best thing that ever happened to me was Y2K. … On January 1, 2000, half our business cancelled on us … [b]ut we did survive, I was able to purchase a struggling competitor, and then sold it all in 2002, to start Discover Yourself. My dream job … I needed the hard kick in the teeth to start doing what I really love to do!” (link)
“I had a career I loved ... My staff and I suddenly experienced terrible harassment … I fought for a fair, healthy work environment and lost! … What was such a painful loss became a tremendous opportunity. I now have a new position in a related field that is better in every way.” (link)
“My big break was being laid off from a large company which led to me going back to school, getting my PhD, and finding my true passion, teaching college kids.” (link)
“My big break came when my former business partner locked me out of our office—as in, literally changed the locks. … I walked away smarter and more confident, and 16 years later, still run my own business pretty successfully.” (link)
So I’m interested to hear from you again, in this weekly comment thread:
Tell us what you consider to have been your "big break(s)."
Tell us about the earlier "little breaks" that had to happen for those supposed "big breaks" to occur.
And tell us about the "breaks" you're still hoping for.
Secret hope:
Someone will write, "I hope one day my big break will be that I find my Perfect X (a job, a date, an opportunity) ..."
Someone will read that and reply: "Hmmm, you know what, I might just have the Perfect X for you..."
7 other things worth your time
The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday night approved an amendment requiring women to register for the draft. (The Hill)
An Oregon McDonald's is now recruiting 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds to apply for work, due to "staffing issues." The restaurant's operator says raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour didn't attract many new applicants, but lowering the hiring age to 14 brought in 25 applicants in two weeks. (Washington Examiner)
The governor of Texas announced that Elon Musk supports the state’s “social policies,” in the wake of its controversial new abortion law—but in an interview, Musk demurred. “I would prefer to stay out of politics," said the entrepreneur, whose companies and private foundation are both growing their operations in Texas. (CNBC)
Representative Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader, threatened to retaliate against any company that complies with the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, after the panel asked dozens of firms to preserve the phone and social media records of 11 far-right members of Congress who pushed to overturn the results of the 2020 election. (NYT)
Crew members on a drill ship in the Gulf of Mexico, 100 miles from Louisiana’s shore, say they’ve been stuck on the ship since before Hurricane Ida hit, and don’t know when help is coming. They say the companies they work for were supposed to evacuate them, but never did. (WFLA)
Vermont is offering frontline workers, like nurses, janitors, and bartenders, up to $7,500 to move to the state. (CBS News)
Someone paid more than $300k for a fake Banksy NFT…. and the pranksters gave it all back to make a point. (The Verge)
Thanks for reading. Photo credit: Pixabay. Want to see all my mistakes? Click here.
When I was in my late 20s I had a good job at an international insurance firm that had just acquired our local insurance company and was considering proposing to my girlfriend. Within a 3 week span I lost my job because of redundancies due to the merger and my girlfriend decided she wanted to break up with me. I was absolutely blind sided and it was truly the low point of my life. I decided to take a job at a local restaurant where my friend worked while I figured out a plan. My first job when was a kid was at a restaurant, but as a college graduate my parents weren’t too enthusiastic about my career change. I realized how much I enjoyed it though and wanted to learn every aspect of the business. One night after work I met a girl there at happy hour who later became my wife.
Well after 15 years of marriage, two amazing daughters and co-ownership of 20 restaurants later I know the bad news in my 20s was definitely my big break!
Following a breakdown, flunking exams, and almost dropping out of law school, my mom generously funded a solo trip to an island so I could learn how to scuba dive and restore my self confidence. On the island, I met a couple who later introduced me to their lawyer, who later hired me as a temp, and subsequently wrote me such a great recommendation that I returned to law school, and obtained a job as a Family Court law clerk, which then led to a successful career as a child welfare, custody and divorce attorney. I learned that “out of bad comes good,” and it has helped me through many dark days.