Today is Your WakeUp Call! Life Lessons from a 9/11 Survivor.
I am a Human WakeUp Call. My story reminds people that life is a gift and every day counts. This is a lesson in finding the possibility for change and pursuing it.
I never played an active role in my career. Promotions/job changes were spaced out enough to give me the illusion of progress, but I was just ‘floating down the river’ letting life take me from one place to another. None of it was my ‘right’ work-I was unhappy, but comfortable.
One day I found myself in another meaningless job. I had just moved to CT and the office was a 2 hour commute to downtown NYC. I left each morning with my 1 yr old daughter asleep, and came home each night with her already asleep. Days would go by where I wouldn’t see her awake at all. This was not the life I wanted. I wasn’t being the dad I wanted to be. But what could I do?
Then during lunch one day I realized I had to own making a change…even if it was a small one. I decided that the next morning, instead of rushing to catch my normal early train, I would take a later train so I could have
breakfast with my family. I felt this was a good first step. Not a big step, but at least a new beginning.
The next morning my wife asked me if we were still having breakfast together. The chatter in my head started: “Do we have breakfast together another day? Will my daughter even be aware of it? Do I risk going in late and getting in trouble at work? ” But something inside me stirred and stopped my hesitation. “No,” I said. “let’s have breakfast together. I’ll catch the next train.”
We spent 20 minutes having breakfast in our small dining room and I looked at my family and smiled. I had known my wife since Jr High School and I knew the moment I saw her that she was ‘the one’. Here we were 18 years later and I was living the reality of my dreams. Life was good!
I took the train into NYC, got on the subway, and instead of being in my office, I was underground at 8:45am when the first plane slammed into the North Tower of the WTC, into my floor, hitting my desk, killing most of my group including my boss. The morning I had breakfast with my family was September 11, 2001.
As a result of that that tragic day, I have recreated my career to serve as a WakeUp call for others - so you don’t have to experience a tragedy or near miss to wake up to the possibility of your life. So you stop drifting downstream looking back at your life asking ‘why?’ and instead turn around to look forward and say, ‘What now? Where do I want to go with this gift?
Realize that life is a gift and every single day counts!
Look forward and saying 'what now?' Don't look back saying ‘I wish I had!'
Design your business and life so they are partners in support of each other, not at each other's expense.
Wake up and take the wheel! Don't let life just ‘happen’ to you!
Remember what's really important, and be an authentic leader, aligned with your values.
S-l-o-w down and breathe again!
Have courage to take small steps now, you don't have endless tomorrows!
Comments
Thanks kc21. I appreciate the post and wish you peace, possibility and abundance!
Hey Mike - 2001 was a year of major life transition for me, too -- started with my wife leaving me and my father being diaghnosed with ALS. 9/11 sealed the deal; 9/12 was the last day I saw my (first) wife. Thanks for sharing and thank God for the late train.
This story is amazing and thank you for sharing this--- its amazing!!
Mike Jaffe was my 'Human Wake Up Call.' Through devoted, insightful and really enjoyable coaching, he helped me find my passion and got me started on a path pursuing it. Before his guidance, I was working at a job I hated and life was kind of a bore. Now I am singing, writing and performing to feed my soul--and I've got a new job that pays better than the old one, and is WAY more fun. Mike changed my life!!
It makes you think and act. This truly shows that "Today is the first day of the rest of your life".
While I have know about your story since it happened, to read it again just reminds me how blessed I am to know you and that God spared your life. Through the years since, your encouragement and example help me to stop and think many times before I just "do" and make sure that I find time for the really important things and the people in my life - which are the eternal things that inspire us and shape who we really are. Keep shining my friend!
My heart sings at your story. Keep up the good work...you inspire the best in others when you inspire the best in yourself.
Mike - amazing story destined to affect others
A life changing story... for everyone!
Wow - thanks for sharing. I had a similar life changing experience that motivated me to change careers and start my own business. It's sad that sometimes it takes something like this happening to smell the coffee. Congrats to you and good luck.