Approximately eleven years ago my sister was working at a small bar in Texas, done anything from bar tendering to sweeping the floors. The salary range was anywhere from 30$ during weekdays to 100$ on weekends. Not a lot but nevertheless, it was something. She liked the place and the owner and most of the crowd seem to like her. Because of that, it was a surprise that one evening she came back home crying telling me she was let go due to “complaints”. What were the complaints about? Well, she was Jewish and some of the crowd did not like that very much. Her boss wanted to avoid potential trouble so this was his way of doing so.
While I can probably write a lot more about the above this isn’t even our story yet. It is what leads to our story. Read on..
That night my sister came home crying as if the world had completely collapsed on her shoulders, as if there was no hope, none whatsoever. She had no paperwork, driving an iCe Cream truck wasn’t an attractive option anymore (what she did prior to bar tendering), and she had no idea where to go from here, how to pay the bills, not to mention how to build a better future.
As for myself, I was mainly home playing chess on the computer, I had no job either. However, I was more optimistic than her. I said as I always do, “Everything happens for a GOOD reason”, things will work out just fine if not better very soon. I still remember the look on her face, it was saying something on the lines of “Easy for you to say!!”, or maybe it was more like a “Yea.. right!!”. Either way, it wasn’t promising and whatever I said made little sense to her.
During her Ice Cream days (she used to drive an Ice Cream truck in TX) my sister made friends with a number of business owners, one of those also had a local bar in the same area. Unlike the first bar where she was let go, this place had a live karaoke, pool tables, a much better location, and overall was extremely busy. We decided, since she wasn’t working now, to drop by and pay a visit to her old friend. Not sure how long after our arrival she had a quick chat with her friend and a new job working at this place. Within a couple of days we found out the new place was indeed the better choice. Better place, better crowd, and money wise, at least 500% if not more better.
While the story above may sounds like the exception, over the years I’ve seen it happening many times, in the life of friends and in my own life as well.
Some years ago one of our previous partners in the domain space decided to break an agreement due to internal financial issues. We were on a long term contract and now were moved into a revenue sharing program. This move dropped our income overnight by more than 25%, It came as a complete surprise, especially given the credibility and our relations with this particular partner. Soon afterwards our domain portfolio started to gain momentum, we went from losing more than 25% to doubling our income within the next twelve months. If that partner did not act as they have this would have never happened.
I’m not sure how or why it works that way. Maybe it is because at uncertain times we try harder? or maybe it is because that at safe times we don’t explore, we are blinded to opportunities that may have always been there for us? Whatever the reason may be, for me, things always turn out for the better, I still say and truly believe that everything that happens happens for a GOOD reason, and that any downfall has the potential for a greater success.
Have a great day,
Sahar
“It is because that at safe times we don’t explore, we are blinded to opportunities that may have always been there for us?”
That is relaxing in the “comfort zone”. A lot of us do it. It is like: why bother if things are OK. The whole piece is very inspirational. I would sum it up as when a door slams on your face, another (better) on would open.
Excellent post and I completely agree with your philosophy.
Ironically, some of our most fortuitous situations have occured because someone turned us down or backed out of a deal. Looking back, we can see that if we’d tried to force those situations we would have been locked into a bad place.
This is an inspiration for me as I’m physically challenged. Good times will come. I try hard to overcome obstacles.
Thanks for the words, Sahar. I could have really used them today and I’m sure others, too. I experience the same thing as well and do believe you’re right about the “safe times”.
thanks for that post sahar.. you have no idea how much that helps a person like me struggling but commited to make it in this game.
True enough. Ive always believed and can point to evidence on every occasion that, during a period of perceived bad times, its good times somewhere else. Every action having an equal and opposite reaction.
As entrepreneurs, we simply become fluid, change our model, embrace change and move on. Simple.
Nothing lasts forever, if you are fortunate enough to have benefited from any current status quo then accept the fact that you rode the wave and did well (nothing more than that). If you weren’t so fortunate, take pleasure in the fact that everyone is also back at square one and the game starts all over again. You may be back at the start, but so to is everyone else.
On a domaining parallel, Ive been running down centralnic and their sub domains for what seems like an age now, ironically, because of the ICANN decision, it now seems like all our domains will drop a level and were all gonna own them.
On a side note, $100k for .con seems like a steal and im sure Kevin Ham has his checkbook at the ready..
—-answer—-
It is often we see individuals on TV when a major co. announces layoff. They seem lost, not knowing what to do, not understanding that finally, after years of dependency, by letting them go, someone is offering them real freedom.
Sahar
Funny but I didn’t think anyone would relate to this post, I just wrote it as I just experienced this again lately, from uncertainty to opportunity, not because of choice, but because of circumstances.
Great to hear all of your comments!
Sahar
Thanks, Sahar,
I needed that. It hasn’t been a bad day but it hasn’t been the day I thought I wanted. And yet I see the good that can come of it. I can see the positive side of dealing with what I think went wrong as I work to fix it.
Your encouraging words reinforced my resolve.
Thank You!
Great post. Indeed I agree, “Everything happens for a GOOD reason”. Just continue to think positive no mather what happens.
These inspirational words are particularly even more meaningful considering the current state of the domain name market.
@ Julia, that’s a great perspective you have there, I guess we’re all back at square one. Apparently, I got in the game right as the PPC goldmine was just starting to deplete. I for one, didn’t even know such a thing existed when I got into the game. I thought it was just about buying and selling domain names - the concept of parking never occurred to me. So, I’ve always looked at parking revenues as a bonus - no love lost here
Cheers.
Nice post Sahar.
Life is like a book (the book is a great story of an individual), every page in that book represents a day of living (the ups and downs in life - the downs are the lessons which must be learned).
Make the most out of YOUR life so when the time is up your book will be a master piece which will be remembered throughout time.
Hi Sahar
Great post and often but not always the case re things turning out for the best but with some lateral thinking (as you suggested to your sister) you can change things for the etter for sure !
You’re a chess nut too huh, I play online all the time - I actually think I’m more addicted to it that domains now !
all the best
andy
—-answer—–
Used to play a lot of Chess for years, was winning against some grandmasters at my prime. The game is so addicting (I played 16+ hours a day for a while) I have no interest in it anymore whatsoever. My Chess medicine these days is business
Cheers
Sahar
Nice post Sahar
What happens following a set back, is down to yourself. If you were a glass half empty type, then one set back can lead straight into another.
As you said in your post, that you expected a good outcome from a bad situation - then that’s what you got.
Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t - you’re right!