Earlier this week, I had an appointment with one of my most respected mentors. I had been really looking forward to this conversation. He is very wise, senior and of course busy. We usually communicate via Teams, and although we had exchanged WhatsApp contacts, we had never actually used it. The day before, I even joked, “I don’t have Teams on my personal phone, so let’s just meet at 10 AM—old school style. See you there!”

I left home early, planning to arrive by 9:45 AM to wait for him. And then…see the picture…

As I watched the minutes tick by in standstill traffic, I realized I was going to be late. I tried to reach him on WhatsApp—only to find I didn’t have his contact saved. Then I attempted to message him on LinkedIn, the messages were sent, but the chances of him seeing them in time were slim…

Time kept slipping away on the unmoving highway. By then, I was already late. He was probably waiting at the meeting spot, while I… couldn’t even see the end of this traffic jam! 

Just then, by sheer luck, I received a message from a friend/colleague. I immediately asked her to notify my mentor via Teams and direct him to check the messages I had sent on LinkedIn. Thanks to her help—and modern technology—the message got through!

In the end, I arrived at 10:30, a full 30 minutes late. After quickly explaining the situation, we got straight to our discussion. Though we only had half an hour left, it was an incredibly valuable conversation!

The outcome was both regretful and rewarding. Throughout the process, my emotions were on a rollercoaster rideHere’s what I learned:

1. Bad things happen, even when you’ve done nothing wrong.

2. In moments of panic, take a deep breath and focus on what truly matters.

For me, that was staying calm and driving safely!

3. There is always a way out. 

Just when I thought I had no way to reach him, an unexpected solution appeared. When one door closes, another window opens.

4. Don’t dwell on what you lost—take full usage of what you have! 

And a special shoutout to my mentor for being so kind, calm and understanding. If it weren’t for his patience and composure, we wouldn’t have been able to have such a valuable conversation.

And big shoutout to my friend/colleague as well, she saved my ass! 

So…last but not least

5. Remember- YOU ARE NOT ALONE!