The University of Life - Part 2
Jun 12th, 2007 by Steve Sandells
So where I left off yesterday, I was happily working in the financial industry as a consultant for one the UK’s largest personal financial and investment companies, on a career fast track clearly layed out before me. Then suddenly I reached one of those crossroads, that so often appear before us when we least expect them. I was offered the chance to return to Spain as director of a company which after checking into seemed pretty well established and offering an interesting opportunity. Of course, married by now with my first child, and my wife being Spanish, it was a chance we couldn’t resist.
Time to sell up, hand in my notice and move. Everything went smoothly, the house sold quickly getting what we wanted for it and we were off. Everything looked sunny, but suddenly everything went wrong. What had appeared to be a solid established company wasn’t such, and all of a sudden we were in Spain having left everything and jobless. Talk about starting over. Having to start from scratch is always a fantastic learning curve, which you only get to see once you’ve gone through it. It’s when you get to use loads of the things you’ve learnt earlier in life. Time for resillience, hard work, belief in ones self and ones abilities and of course a never say die attitude.
Career change by force. I had no choice but to find work, so it was time to look at my own strengths and values and put them to use by applying to jobs where I would stand out and be able to succeed. I eventually ended up entering the retail trade in a supermarket chain to work in the purchasing department. What got me the job out of 500 applicants was down to the fact I knew my strengths and was able to play on those through out the whole of the selection process. The English language was most definately required, obviously no problem on that front. The second factor was an outgoing personality, something required in any commercial position be it selling or buying. Also a positive attitude, something that is necessary in any situation when you’re looking for a job. People like positive attitudes, thats one lesson well worth learning and living too.
Seven years down the line, and being of an inquisitive nature I came to another cross roads where I felt the urge to try something new.
Lifes Univiersity will continue to share its learnings tomorrow and finally relate the subjects studied to blogging.
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