In the winter of 2009, I was laid off from my full time salaried position as a CPA for a consulting firm in Boston. Since then, I’ve been doing project work for various companies as an independent contractor. 
Since last summer, business has been slow with no incoming work offers. I chock it up to the Universe wanting me to spend more time finishing my novel and writing for my blog. But there comes a time when the income faucet must get turned back on for this single girl or things start to get pretty dicey.
For some reason, the Universe has been more interested in playing tricks on me than turning on the faucet. I went on one interview for a part-time Interim Controller position. The interview process was going fine until I met with the President of the company. He asked, “You’re OK with part-time for now? I think we’ll be ramping up soon.”
I said, “Yes, I have some creative projects that I’m working on, so that would work out fine.”
He said, “I hear from Human Resources that you’re writing a novel. What happens when you become a best selling author? What does that mean for us?”
First of all, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from someone who is supposed to be an intelligent business person. The odds of becoming a best selling author are similar to winning the lottery. Second, I had to come up with a great answer without messing with the energy I had put out for becoming a successful author. I responded, “It would be great if I became a best selling author. I’ll just schedule my book signings on weekends.” What I was really thinking was, What an ass!
I walked out thinking, Could there be a message for me here? Nice but it doesn’t pay the mortgage right now. I was talking to myself and sending a message to Spirit that tricks are for kids not adults who have serious financial responsibilities.
The next day, I got a call from a recruiter who set me up to meet with a Controller who was looking for someone to help with a project. I read up on the latest accounting regulations the company needed to comply with and studied their recent public filings. I prepared for hours. When I got there, I told the receptionist that I was there to meet with Mr. Lay. She said, “I don’t think that’s how he pronounces his name. I think it’s Lie.”
I apologized while she phoned his office. Lay or Lie, I was eager to get back to work.
I was escorted to his office where we talked about the project. He proceeded to grill me about my experience managing projects. Nothing I said satisfied him. The only time he perked up was when I mentioned using consultants on one of the projects I managed. “Who did you use?” He asked.
He was more interested in the consulting firm I used than me. As he left his own office for the next person to come in and interview me, I spontaneously asked, “How do you pronounce your last name?” I couldn’t believe it came out of my mouth.
He responded, “Lie,” and then closed the door behind him. It was the last word he said to me.
I knew it was the Universe giving me a message.
Within 24 hours, I received the feedback I knew I would get. Not interested. He hired a consulting firm instead. Intuitively, I got that he had already decided to hire the firm. He was just interviewing me to satisfy the new Chief Financial Officer who was friendly with the recruiter.
That’s when I had a serious talk with the Universe. Did they not think I had better things to do with my time than to play hide and go seek with Senior Financial Managers? “What’s up with this!?” I screamed (really).
Ironically, while I was at the interview, my ex-roommate left a book in a bag on the door knob to my house. The book was one I had purchased while in an airport for another consulting job earlier in the year. I was buying many books in airports as I went back and forth between San Diego and Boston. As I dragged myself in one Friday night after a long commute, I threw my stuff on the kitchen table. My roommate saw this book and asked, “Can I read this? It looks interesting.”
“Sure. I have two books ahead of that one anyway. Go ahead.”
Well, my roommate moved out and I forgot about the book…until now. The book? Three Feet From Gold by Sharon Lechter and Greg Reid.
Books always seem to find me at just the right time. I was so frustrated with my work search, I felt like giving up. Of course, I can’t give up, because I’m a single chick with a mortgage, remember? I was just running out of ideas and Faith (even those who own spiritual metaphysical blogs have run ins with our friend Faith on occasion). I couldn’t see my way forward and things were getting close to being dicey financially.
Just when you think your requests fall on deaf ears on the other side, they give you little clues…like you’re Three Feet From Gold…just hang on! That is, if you’re willing to pay attention.
If you feel like you’ve been through the wringer with the Great Recession and you’re at the end of your rope, pay attention! You need to scrape together the money to buy the book Three Feet From Gold – Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities! The book was inspired by Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich (another book you should read if you haven’t). The co-author, Greg Reid interviewed some of the most successful business people in the country. The common theme: Never Give Up! Another common theme was that the most successful people in the world experience rejection and failure. The degree of success was equal to or greater than the failure experienced—usually greater.
The book gave me a renewed sense of Faith in myself and shook the courage out of me to persevere through difficult times. The authors remind the reader that Napoleon Hill’s book was published during the Great Depression of the 20th century, and it was their intention to write this book for those going through the Great Recession of the 21st century.
As I finished the book and looked around my living room, I thought about the original owners of my house (built in 1910) who lived through the Great Depression. If they could get through it, then I knew I can get through these tough times too. I wasn’t going to give up on myself no matter how difficult it seemed.
Within a few days, I got a phone call from a Chief Financial Officer from a large firm in Boston who thought my background was perfect for an Interim Controller position he needed to fill and told me to just come in on Monday. And by the way, he might want to hire me full time. He didn’t need to see me in person. He didn’t worry that I might become a best selling author. He just knew I was perfect for the job. A recruiter had set up the call and said he had looked at a stack of resumes and mine was the only one he was interested in…AND he was willing to pay me what I wanted. The most ironic part, the CFO's last name is the same as one of the angels! I guess when I screamed UNCLE, the Universe said it was time for a little good humor.
I highly recommend reading Three Feet From Gold…and to pay attention when the book lands in your lap. It’s the Universe sending you a message that the income faucet is about to turn on for you!
PS. I’ll keep you posted if the Best Selling Author prophesy from the ass comes to pass. Anything is possible!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R. Ann Rousseau writes about metaphysical, spiritual and astrology topics on her blog Explore Beyond the Usual. She is author of the new novel Portsmouth, A Love Story. If you would like to be notifed when the novel is available for sale, please email us info@explorebeyondtheusual.com
Other Blog Posts by R. Ann Rousseau: Do You Need a Most Benevolent Outcome? As Above So Below January 2012 Astrology Forecast, We Are All Connected Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, Release the Anger: Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, One Big Global Blogging Family, Book Review - Psychic Exploration A Challenge for Science, Hay House Radio's New Show SoundWave A Bit Hit!, Do You Believe in Soul Mates, The Future of Astrology, You Always Had the Power- Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Love Doesn't Hurt - Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Unconditional Love of Animals-Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Your Life is Whispering to You. Pay Attention. Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Power of a Second Chance: Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Aging : Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Connecting the Dots- Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech, The Truth Will Set You Free, Discussion of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Premiere: The World Beyond, A Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Moment, Breaking Out the Top Shelf Advice for Rough Times, Eat Dessert First -The Art of Extreme Self Care, Queen of the Law of Least Effort-Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Book Review, The Secret of Instant Healing Book Review, Transforming Fate into Destiny Book Review, Awakening the Lightworker Within Book Review, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Book Review, Trust Your Gut Book Review, The Spirit Whisperer Book Review, Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain Book Review, My 9/11 Story, How to Be Inspired Book Review, Infinite Quest Book Review, Biology of Belief Book Review, The Morning Breeze Has Secrets to Tell, The Gentle Way II Book Review, Do You Fear or Respect Mother Nature?, You Can Heal Your Life Movie Review, Hereafter Movie Review, North Wind Blowing -Time for a Change, Presence University, Impossible Situations are Great Opportunities, Do You Have Enough?, Moon Tides Soul Passages Book Review, Compromise with the Varmints! Yankee Doodle Discord Book Review, A Wright Brothers Moment! The Sacred Promise Book Review
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