Everybody’s got a Story. Tell us yours!
Question #2: August 6, 2013
Tell us… What was the luckiest break you ever got?
Lee’s Story:
I’ve had a few lucky breaks in my life and most have been job related. Here’s one:
When I was married to my ex-husband, we had moved across the state for his job. We had both graduated from college and this was the first “real” job for him, and the first really hard job search for me. My degree was in English Language since it afforded me the greatest opportunity to write, have it critiqued, and better hone my writing. That’s what I wanted to do. Write.
Moving to a new area and knowing no one, plus my husband had to leave for 3 months for training, left me alone and with a lot of time on my hands. Since I wanted a job, I applied for every writing position I came across: writing articles for pay on acceptance (what a racket!), technical writing, various copy writing for ad agencies and businesses, anything I could find to apply for…I applied for.
It wasn’t until I had applied for a copy writing job at a retail store that I had the feeling the long search was about to come to an end. I met the department head that was doing the hiring and chatted a bit. I was then on the trail of that job like a bloodhound. I called..consistently and frequently. I probably drove her nuts, but I contacted her so frequently, she told me when she hired me, “I had to hire you…you just wouldn’t quit.”
So there we go. I’ve described myself to my clients as a pitbull with lipstick when it comes to their work. Being tenacious helped land the first job in a new market. And that experience paved the way for other jobs in other cities and states.
What’s the luckiest break I ever got? Getting my first job as a writer.
That’s MY story – what’s YOURS? Tell us about YOUR luckiest break.
Barbara’s Story:
My career in Non Profit started in 1992. I was tired of B2B Sales and wanted to do something with a purpose. I knew the world wouldn’t necessarily end if there wasn’t one more brochure being printed. So I applied for a job at Muscular Dystrophy Association as the District Director. I really didn’t know what I was getting into, but I knew I wanted in.
The interview process boiled down to two candidates. A man I didn’t know and me. Even in 1992, after a few days of impatiently waiting, I was stunned to hear “I’m sorry, but we’re going to give this job to the Gentleman who applied, because we think a man is more well suited to this position”. I thought, Really? Did you really just say those words to me? Now I had to muster up a response. A response to something that didn’t make sense.
I said, Well, thank you for your time and consideration…If your plan doesn’t work out, give me a call back.
Less than a week went by and I received a call from the Regional Office…turns out that blanket statement about men being “more well suited” wasn’t true. After three days, the guy walked out and said he couldn’t do it.
I started the next Monday and, as a result of this gentleman walking out after three days, started a long and
aggravatingsatisfying career in Non Profit.
Now it’s your turn….What’s the luckiest break you ever got?
Tell someone you know about this:
Tags: everybody's got a story, luckiest break, middlesage, tell us, your luckiest break
When I first got to Silicon Valley I had no tech experience at all. But, to get a job in tech, you needed experience in tech, a Catch-22 that was frustrating. Finally, a manager I interviewed with said, “you know what? I like you and your skills. I’ll take a chance.” I leveraged that into a significant career as a corporate communications exec in high techs followed by another dozen years in a consulting firm. We never know how we’re impacting someone else when we give them the benefit of the doubt. That manager changed my life. (Thank you, Pat!)
Carol Cassara recently posted…Old photos give us a peek back in time
Carol – I love that story…particularly since the job was in tech. We all need people in our lives who give us a chance to prove just what we can accomplish. thank you for your story!
It was 1978. I had just graduated from college and was enrolled in a paralegal program for the fall semester.
About a month before my classes were to begin, I sat crying on the sofa. Between sobs– yes, it was that bad — I told my parents that the paralegal program wasn’t going to work for me.
I didn’t go. Instead, I started working a few weeks later as receptionist with an architectural firm. I only stayed for a year, but long enough to meet my future husband.
To this day, I can’t tell you why I changed my mind about school, but I view it as my internal lucky break.
Marion – thank goodness you found the COURAGE to tell your parents what was on your heart and mind. a lot of people wouldn’t have been able to do that. What a great story…thank you for sharing it!
Great Story Marian! Sometimes the universe is throwing us curves for a reason!
My lucky break was literally a broken back! In 1990, I had a spinal fusion & the day before leaving the hospital, I sat in a chair & it broke! The leg of the chair fell off & I went down with it! The accident caused major trauma & the hospital covered up everything! I’ve gone through several surgeries since then & much emotional pain, but the bottom line is that today I CAN WALK!!! This lucky break has taught me to live with “the half” full mindset, that’s for sure!!!
WOW! I think you win the prize for your “luckiest break.” I can’t imagine going through all your probably went through, but holy cow….did that completely work in your favor! Thank you for sharing a fabulous story!
My luckiest break was getting fired at age 49. This one breakdown in my whole belief system led to so many phenomenal breakthroughs. First it led to me starting my own dating service then to meeting the love of my life and finally to becoming a writer at age 50.
Thanks to one asshole of a boss, I have now discovered why I’m here… BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME!
Laura Lee Carter aka the Midlife Crisis Queen recently posted…Go visit the latest Best of Boomer Blogs…
Laura – I’m a glass half full kinda gal and believe the adage that when one door closes…. It’s amazing how when faced with adversity we’re able to refocus, realign ourselves and get moving to what life holds for us next. Wonderful story! Thank you for sharing with us!
Yes! Love this story, Laura! Sometimes those curve balls the universe throws us is helping us get to home base.
My luckiest break was a fluke for sure. I had been looking for a place for my mom to live near us. She had sold her home and wanted an apartment near us. Everything was either to small, too bleak or too far away. The week she accepted an offer on her house the perfect apartment became available. She’s been there nearly 4 years now. I couldn’t have been happier!
Jo Heroux recently posted…FIRST STEPS
Jo – I never get tired of hearing how life works out just when we need it to. I can almost hear the big exhaled “phew” you and your mom must have felt. Tank you for telling us a part of your story!
What a great story…I can tell you have a kind heart when you think of your luckiest break and the story that comes to your mind is someone else. I LOVE it!!!
My luckiest break was definitely meeting my husband. I had been separated from my first husband for just 4 months and wasn’t looking for a relationship – but I couldn’t say no to such a wonderful man. I know it sounds sappy but it’s true. And seriously, for years after we met, my mother and father would say to me “you’re so lucky you found him,” to which I’d retort “he’s pretty lucky too!” But they were right – I did get lucky.
Sharon Greenthal recently posted…Let’s Give Millennials a Chance, Shall We?
Sharon – I love that story! I believe our first marriages are “practice” for when the right person comes along. I have a similar story, but the gap was 7 years. We’ve seen the pix of your husband and family…no doubt the absolute right choice saying yes to your first date with him. Thank you for sharing!
Sharon – I Love it! I’ve got two “practice” marriages under my belt …. I completely understand.
My luckiest break was being born a woman in the middle of the 20th century in the United States!
So very true, and we so rarely sit and appreciate this fact!
Laura Lee Carter aka the Midlife Crisis Queen recently posted…Surprise Yourself
Sue…it’s like I just read the cover to your first book! I’ll bet you’ve got some stories to tell! As women, we’ve seen a lot of changes … As they say, We’ve come a long way baby.
I rarely share this although I’m sure I probably did with Lee at some point over the years, and while the circumstances may not seem so lucky, we truly received one through the ordeal. Here’s my story.
We were just married a year and were two months along expecting out first child together when my wife was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome, a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disorder. It begins in the lower extremities and over several months, migrates throughout the body, resulting in complete paralysis before it reverses course.
We were warned that as it progressed the respiratory muscles are often affected in such a severe case, and the only option at the time would be to place her on an iron lung to facilitate breathing, administer extreme doses of steroids—and pray for the best. There were serious concerns that a potential lack of oxygen would be detrimental to the baby’s development, so the steroids were withheld as long as possible because they knew very little how it would affect the baby beyond the risk of being born addicted to the drug.
The condition pretty much ravages the body and it’s almost unthinkable that at its extreme, my wife was so severely paralyzed she could not even blink her eyes—they were moistened with artificial teardrops and kept closed with surgical tape.
When the disease reached her mid-section it inexplicably changed course, traveling around the baby, up the back and away from the lungs to the upper extremities. No breathing apparatus was ever needed, no oxygen deprivation occurred and when the baby finally arrived (8 weeks early) she was unaffected by the steroids! A lucky break or I don’t know, perhaps a miracle.
Our “baby” is now 32 and a wonderful mom to beautiful 2 year-old and newborn baby girls. And to those who know my wife, although left with residual effects of GBS, does pretty damn well—all things considered.
Wow! What a story Richard! It’s amazing how going through something like this can change your perspective forever. You’re a wonderful Grandpa I can just tell.
I had never heard that whole story. Wow! I think that goes WAY beyond the luckiest thing…that is just short of a miracle! Thanks, Dick, for sharing such a a wonderful story!