Turning Disappointments into Success

Eddie was hired as a janitor for a local business. Although he was never late for work, did his job meticulously, and kept up with all his responsibilities the manager relieved him of his job. He found out that the janitor could neither read nor write.

Dismayed at first, Eddie decided that he couldn’t afford to become resentful. He used the money he had saved up to buy a mobile popcorn stand. Situated near a city park he ended up doing well because he produced a very good bag of popcorn at a reasonable price. Soon he added a second stand, employing his son. Then he added a third, a fourth and then a fifth stand. After a number of years he had multiple stands all over the city. He was doing very well.

The bank manager called Eddie into his office one day and complimented him on his business success. “You’ve done very well for an illiterate person,” he exclaimed. “Think of where you would be if you had learned to read and write.”

“Yes,” replied Eddie. “I’ve thought of that often. I think I’d still be doing janitor work, which is honorable work but not as rewarding as this.”

Circumstances can either make us or break us. It isn’t the kind of job that necessarily makes the difference, it’s more likely the attitude with which we handle it.

On the sunny side,

Henry Wiebe