This Thanksgiving, I'm Also Grateful for the Detours
Back in 1981, life threw me a curveball. I was working in the Juvenile Division of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Over eight years, I had worked in several juvenile facilities, managed vocational training programs (partnering with a local community college), and even wrote grants to expand inmate training opportunities. The work itself was meaningful, but the environment? Stifling. On top of that, the state was shifting away from rehabilitation and putting all its chips on strict incarceration. I could see the writing on the wall—it was time to move on.
So, I did something bold. I resigned, cashed in my retirement savings, and launched my own education and training consulting business.
Unfortunately, 1981 wasn’t exactly a banner year for starting a business. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment had soared to 9.6 million people—nearly 9% of the workforce. Businesses were tightening belts, job seekers were discouraged, and many people still employed were working reduced hours. I tried expanding my consulting work to serve businesses, but most of them were struggling just to stay afloat. By 1982, I made the tough call to shut the business down and start looking for a job.
That’s when a small miracle happened. A local community college was starting a brand-new employment training department, focused on partnerships with area businesses and organizations. I sent in my application, not expecting much. But somehow—out of a thick stack of resumes—I got an interview. And I got the job.
By 1984, I was promoted to Executive Dean for Career Education.
Looking back, that whole experience taught me one of the biggest lessons of my life: good fortune matters.
Author Michael Lewis has pointed out that successful people often forget how much luck and help from others factor into their achievements. We tend to build stories about our hard work and talent (which matter, of course) but leave out the random breaks and generous people who helped us along the way.
Research backs this up. A Cornell University study found that while talent and effort are necessary, they’re not the whole story. In fact, some incredibly talented people never reach the top because they get outpaced by less talented—but luckier—individuals.
But here’s the twist: while luck plays a big role, gratitude might be the thing that keeps success going. Geoffrey James, a business author and columnist, says people who live with a sense of gratitude are always noticing what’s good in their lives. They actually enjoy their success—and that makes them hungry for more. And when things don’t work out, gratitude helps them keep setbacks in perspective.
Sure, perseverance and a drive to learn are also essential. But gratitude is the great balancer. It keeps us humble. It reminds us we don’t have all the answers. And it nudges us to help others—because sometimes, we might be the lucky break that changes someone else’s life.
Lee Rasch
This article is a reprint from earlier in 2025. It seemed to hold a timely message for Thanksgiving...actually, year round.
