Brother, can you spare a dime?

There was an unforgettable day when my ATM bank account showed a balance of less than $20. The worst moments of my life came when I had to borrow cash from friends to tide over. This is when you realise who your true friends are and whether they will stand by you when you are almost down and out. To this day, I am thankful to the few who volunteered financial assistance to me during this trying period… – Gilbert Goh

I’m not sure how many of us have actually gone around with less than $20 or even $10 in our wallets– I have, and I can tell you it isn’t the most pleasant of experiences. It’s far more than humbling; it’s an experience that totally shreds your self-esteem.

This happened to me many years ago before I became a consultant: I had resigned from my previous job following some issues at work, and was looking around for a new job. Being young at the time, I thought it would be easy for a university graduate like me to find another job quickly, so money wouldn’t be an issue. I wasn’t also the most prudent of people around– I was someone who chased after material luxuries, and while employed, would wine and dine at fine restaurants, and wear branded clothes and such.

So imagine my surprise when days of waiting ran into weeks, and weeks into months. My savings dwindled, and eventually, from eating at swanky restaurants, I found myself having to skip lunches because there is just not enough to spare. I stopped social lunches and meetings because honestly, it’s simply too embarassing to be out with friends and acquaintances with an empty wallet.

Thankfully, my little ordeal came to an end when a friend offered me a position as a consultant in his headhunting firm, and that was how it all started for me. That was 5 years ago, and I have since moved on to my own business in executive search consulting.

My personal experience of unemployment, if you can call it that, may have lasted all of just three or four months, but it’s taught me valuable life lessons, and rather than feel bitter about it, I’ve come to accept that it is all part of a larger plan to change my perspective on things.