23 Comments

What a gracious and encouraging post this is, Jeff. The truth is, I was lucky to run into you. You were hungry and sharper than you realized. And together with the team that gathered around us, we changed a corner of the world. Those were good years.

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Good years, indeed. I would choose them all over again. Thanks for choosing me, Seth, to be a part of your team.

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Mar 3Liked by Jeff Goins

The job-hunting experts like to stress “transferrable skills”. I had plenty of those from previous work in being a school director and talked myself into a management trainee job at a bank. I hated it, but the principle still remains: skills you hone in one job can contribute to your success in the next ones.

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Yeah, it's true. Living, it seems, is a transferrable skill. ;)

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Apr 25Liked by Jeff Goins

Great post and insight as always. Thanks, Jeff.

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Loved this....My biggest break changed my life--and it really wasn't any big thing....but where it ended leading me was the "big thing" that mattered--and perhaps what REALLY mattered was having someone who was willing to believe in me.

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Ooh! I can't wait to hear more about this, but hold onto it for now. I'm going to be doing an open thread later this week asking folks to share their own stories of big breaks.

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Mar 4Liked by Jeff Goins

Thanks for the mention Jeff!

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Thank you, Dana, for your story, and the tale of the King's Flyswatter, as well as giving definition to something very important that we need to better understand. I shared the concept of flyswatting with a friend who just recently stepped into a new field, and it totally resonated with him.

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This is awesome. Thank you again for inspiring me this morning on my short bathroom/coffee break at work.

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Heh. You bet, Wella. Sounds like you're swatting flies. ;)

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You know I am!!

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'The biggest break I ever got was the first time someone saw something in me that I could not see in myself.'

What a gift to have received ... what a gift to keep on giving.

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Indeed.

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Great story. I hope we can revive the pathways of apprenticeship, I think more than not we don’t have a clear vision for ourselves and learning as we go is the best reality. Thanks for sharing your story Jeff.

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You're welcome, Sushila. I agree. I always loved the metaphor of apprenticeship and think it pays off for us all to think and act more like apprentices than masters. In general, it's a better disposition to adopt.

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Mar 3Liked by Jeff Goins

Thanks Jeff! I too had a older mentor in my life that saw something in me that I did not. At a key low point in my life when I was severely doubting my worth and future, he called forth my destiny. I love your take on finding our dream. My story resonates. I have discovered that aligning our life with timeless principles that create a pathway in the direction of our dreams, is a pathway worth traveling! Blessings!

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Well said, Wayne. I think this what all great mentors do. Sounds like you had a good one, too. Not everyone is so lucky, but I am truly grateful for men and women like Seth who have paid a critical role in my life.

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Great story. I only know you from your writing business. Fascinating to see what came before

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Heh. Well, I would love to share more, so thank you for the encouragement!

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This is such important advice. The younger me could have benefited greatly from this.

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What an insightful and encouraging post. May our own young adults be so blessed with a mentor who speaks into their lives and May we be open to being that for others. Thanks for sharing.

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