My first consulting job was at a place I didn’t belong. The management team took a chance on me, and I on them. We parted ways and not by my own doing. What’s unique about this scenario is that they didn’t fire me because I was lazy or unfocused. They fired me because no matter how hard I tried to learn, grow, and catch-up to the rest of the industry (in this specific niche) I just wasn’t worth the time and effort. Understandably so. I burned through a lot of self-esteem and drowned in self-doubt thinking I could be no good to anyone. Only after I got fired did I seek out my strengths (and weaknesses). I realized my strengths may not have been valuable to that specific company (or those specific managers) but I should never have neglected the value I can bring to the rest of the world. This occurrence kick-started my pursuit of self-improvement and happiness. Jacob V. is one of the few individuals who believed in me when they didn’t and has struggled with me along the way. For that, I am forever grateful. We’ve talked in-depth through many things quite frequently in recent years but this specific conversation drove me to the following life lessons. Lessons you can also benefit from in your career, your personal growth, and the future to come. I hope these words bless your life as they have mine.