The investment of competence!!

 Today, I received the call I was eagerly waiting for. My friend, who had left her job after the unfortunate passing of her husband seven years ago, called me with the absolute best news: she got the job offer.

It’s remarkable how life circles back. We are both professionals, but she works in the education sector where job changes are rare. I was with her when she got her first role—in fact, we both received our college job offers on the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi years ago. Now, after a seven-year gap, she chose to re-enter the workforce, and once again, she asked me to be a part of her journey.

She asked for help creating a resume that would stand out. As an IT professional, I'm used to these tasks, but I knew her skills needed to be translated for a new era. I did what I knew best: I applied every bit of analytical focus—the same focus I use for my current learning—to help refine her narrative. Today, she received the offer. This is a win for both of us.

Later, she shared her current dilemma: her daughter, currently in the 12th grade, wants her to delay joining until after her board exams. I know she will manage this massive task with grace and find the right solution to honor both her family and this crucial opportunity.

Post-call, when I opened my social media, I saw a reel that offered a profound reframe: "When someone asks you for help, remember they have asked God first. And God has redirected them to you."

That single message lifted my spirit. I questioned the use of my education, often feeling that my intense efforts were invisible. But this moment provided a crucial, undeniable truth: My skills work. My judgment works.

Unlike the exhausting drama and uncertainty I often face, this victory is pure and unmessy success. It reminds me of a similar small success last year when I found a job post for my cousin sister, and she got the role.

When we feel powerless, the greatest gift is the opportunity to be the helper in someone else’s success. It restores our belief in our own competence.

I find myself still searching for the right keys to unlock my own future, while successfully providing the keys for others' luck. What a crucial learning this is in the big masterplay of fate. It teaches me this: Keep refining your competence, keep investing your skills, and keep being the helper.