When Getting Fired Is Actually a Good Thing

Nobody likes getting fired. It is a universally unpleasant experience. But what if it could lead to something great? If you’re afraid of losing your job, or might be in danger of being imminently fired, read on. Roy Choi is the widely acknowledged “godfather of the food truck movement,” thanks to his enormously successful gourmet Korean taco venture. He’s won tons of awards and owns several restaurants, but more interesting is how he got to where he is. Choi didn’t always work in food trucks. In fact, the genesis of his massive success was the result of being fired from his job as a chef in a regular kitchen. His life as he knew it collapsed around him and, luckily, he had the presence of mind to trust his gut and go out and do what he’d been dreaming of. And it paid off. Next time you have your back against a wall and feel desperate, make small steps in the direction of something you think is valuable or important, and more often than not the rest will fall into place. A few hard-won freelance gigs could turn into a lucrative career. An entry-level job can turn into a managerial position. An idea for a food truck could turn you into a celebrity. Sometimes you learn a lot about yourself and what you want—not to mention what you’re capable of—when you find yourself at the bottom. Don’t give up. Dig deep. Figure out what you can do, what you want to do, and then work really hard until you get somewhere. Chances are you’ll end up much better off.