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What has been the biggest hardship faced in your professional career?
Moreover, how have you handled such hardship? Does the hardship you face usually stem from a systemic issue or something lighter?
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4 answers
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Patrecia (Trish)’s Answer
The toughest challenge I've faced in my work life was when the company I worked for went bankrupt. I was part of a team that offered project management and technical consulting services to big businesses worldwide. At the time, I was on maternity leave but returned a few weeks early to help with a project that needed me.
My baby boy was only two months old, and we had just moved into a brand-new house. I hadn't even made my first mortgage payment yet. I came back from maternity leave early to support my company, but within two weeks, I was informed that the owners had taken off.
They stopped paying for our insurance, and none of us got any compensation. We found out through an email. I had never felt so powerless. The news was a shock, and I didn't know what the future held for me. My two-month-old was sitting in his chair, and I was at my computer, feeling overwhelmed.
It took me two months to find a new job after this ordeal. The journey was tough, but I made it through. That was the hardest time I've ever faced.
My baby boy was only two months old, and we had just moved into a brand-new house. I hadn't even made my first mortgage payment yet. I came back from maternity leave early to support my company, but within two weeks, I was informed that the owners had taken off.
They stopped paying for our insurance, and none of us got any compensation. We found out through an email. I had never felt so powerless. The news was a shock, and I didn't know what the future held for me. My two-month-old was sitting in his chair, and I was at my computer, feeling overwhelmed.
It took me two months to find a new job after this ordeal. The journey was tough, but I made it through. That was the hardest time I've ever faced.
Updated
Kevin P’s Answer
Hi Ruth, the interesting thing about hard ship is that it impacts everyone differently.
What someone else considers hard, you might consider easy. And vice versa.
Perspective has always helped me. Truly asking my self, do I really have it bad or do I just think I have it bad.
Sometimes it’s both but other times it’s me emotionally reacting to something that truly is not that critical.
I’ve seen others go through hardships that I’ve never personally experienced. That helps me understand, it could always be worse.
At the end of the day, you have to set a plan in motion in order to come out on the other side smarter and stronger.
Hardships make the world just that hard, but hard times make strong men and women.
Any hardship you face, make a plan to get through, execute on that plan, and then make sure you learn something for next time.
Be prepared for the hard. You got this!
What someone else considers hard, you might consider easy. And vice versa.
Perspective has always helped me. Truly asking my self, do I really have it bad or do I just think I have it bad.
Sometimes it’s both but other times it’s me emotionally reacting to something that truly is not that critical.
I’ve seen others go through hardships that I’ve never personally experienced. That helps me understand, it could always be worse.
At the end of the day, you have to set a plan in motion in order to come out on the other side smarter and stronger.
Hardships make the world just that hard, but hard times make strong men and women.
Any hardship you face, make a plan to get through, execute on that plan, and then make sure you learn something for next time.
Be prepared for the hard. You got this!
Updated
Peter’s Answer
Launching my career from the start by getting the first few experiences.
Updated
Dave’s Answer
Hi Ruth,
The excellent small company I worked for, where I really enjoyed my job, was bought by a huge company with a very different culture that had a lot of infighting and politics. I found it both uncomfortable and stifling. Eventually I had to leave and find something else, which took a few months of interviews and also some classes to be sure I was up to speed on the latest issues in my work world. I did finally find a place at another great company, but it was a stressful time - well worth it though!
All the best!
The excellent small company I worked for, where I really enjoyed my job, was bought by a huge company with a very different culture that had a lot of infighting and politics. I found it both uncomfortable and stifling. Eventually I had to leave and find something else, which took a few months of interviews and also some classes to be sure I was up to speed on the latest issues in my work world. I did finally find a place at another great company, but it was a stressful time - well worth it though!
All the best!