Early in my career a position became available which I thought I was entitled to. I had the experience and a good performance record. Much to my dismay it was given to an individual with a university degree. Someone it turned out, I then had to train. At the time it seemed so unfair to me.

I could have taken the attitude I had failed. However, I didn't allow this to be a failure. I refused to be beaten. It would have been easier for me to give up, or become bitter towards the company. However, I was determined I would succeed, and this was only a temporary detour. I needed my job and didn't have the money to obtain a university degree, but I had determination and optimism. The company I worked for would pay for courses to attain a professional designation. I enrolled, and over the course of 9 years, (and two children) attained my professional designation.

I kept my positive attitude and turned a negative experience into an opportunity.

Many times over my career I thought back to that experience and realized the lesson it taught me was one of the best lessons I learned.

To quote Aldous Huxley:

"Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him."

Catherine Pulsifer is one of the editors of Words of Wisdom 4 U, http://www.wow4u.com - A collection of motivational and inspirational thoughts, stories, quotes and poems!