The Failures Guide To Missing The Opportunity To Become A Success


I was watching a TV programme last night where a top chef from the UK (Jamie Oliver) took 15 unemployed and almost 'down-and-out' people - and fast-tracked them into becoming chefs for his new restaurant called'15'.

It certainly was fascinating to watch as people with no real qualifications (or aptitude) struggled to go through catering college in 7 months instead of 3 years!

In the end - thirteen 'passed' - and now, less than a year after they first set foot in a proper kitchen - they are now cooking for paid guests.

The most interesting bit about the programme were the people who 'failed'.

One guy couldn't control his temper - and ended up being suspended by the catering college...but...he has now realised what he needs to do - so he has gone back to college so that he can join the next year's 'intake'. Good luck to him.

Unbelievably - there were a couple of girls (they were all teenagers or early twenties) who literally treated their big opportunity to make something for themselves like they had school. They would 'skive' off and not 'phone in...or go out shopping with their mums instead!

It was unbelievable that they couldn't see how lucky and privileged they were to be offered a career for just a little effort in return.

Perhaps most interesting of all was a coloured guy who was the 'clown' - always being cheeky to the teachers and generally 'showing off'.

When he concentrated - he was as good as (if not better) than anyone else.

After a few close 'scrapes' he commented to camera that it he thought that it was about time that he 'grew up' and not make a mess of yet another attempt to do something with his life. He had been suspended 62 times! whilst at school - but now he said that he realised that this was his 'big chance' to make something out of what had been a life of failure.

Go forward a few weeks - and he failed to turn up for an important event despite being warned the previous day that he would be sacked if he failed to show.

So - he is back in the 'gutter' whilst his new friends are carving out a career for themselves.

Sometimes it seems that, even with all of the best intentions in the world - there are people that don't take advantage of a gilt-edged opportunity provided for them in return for just showing up and working hard!