200 word maximum: What did you learn from your most spectacular failure?
I am now wondering if I should write about something business-related, or write about something more "outside the box." In my case, I had a spectacular failure while running a marathon. Can I write about what I learned from that? This is what I've written:
While a (COMPANY) trainee in China, I trained for and participated in the 2008 (NAME) Marathon, a life goal of mine. During the race, at the 32-kilometer mark, I suffered from ventricular tachycardia and had to be revived and rushed to hospital where it was determined I would need heart surgery. The illness, aside from endangering my life, also threatened my career progression, as （COMPANY) employees in poor health are required to stop assignments abroad and return to Japan. After successful heart surgery and many hours of discussion with my supervisor, I was allowed to return to China to complete my training and subsequent work assignment. Feeling indebted to him for granting me special treatment, I studied diligently and achieved a Grade 9 Chinese Language Certification in only six months, an unprecedented level for a trainee at (COMPANY). Moreover, this incident taught me about the preciousness of life, and as a result, I am more aggressive when I approach both personal and business challenges. To prove to myself that setbacks, no matter how large, do not necessitate failure, I completed the Beijing Marathon in 2010. All the lessons I learned from this experience contribute to my business philosophy.
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Thank you in advance for your comments!
I am now wondering if I should write about something business-related, or write about something more "outside the box." In my case, I had a spectacular failure while running a marathon. Can I write about what I learned from that? This is what I've written:
While a (COMPANY) trainee in China, I trained for and participated in the 2008 (NAME) Marathon, a life goal of mine. During the race, at the 32-kilometer mark, I suffered from ventricular tachycardia and had to be revived and rushed to hospital where it was determined I would need heart surgery. The illness, aside from endangering my life, also threatened my career progression, as （COMPANY) employees in poor health are required to stop assignments abroad and return to Japan. After successful heart surgery and many hours of discussion with my supervisor, I was allowed to return to China to complete my training and subsequent work assignment. Feeling indebted to him for granting me special treatment, I studied diligently and achieved a Grade 9 Chinese Language Certification in only six months, an unprecedented level for a trainee at (COMPANY). Moreover, this incident taught me about the preciousness of life, and as a result, I am more aggressive when I approach both personal and business challenges. To prove to myself that setbacks, no matter how large, do not necessitate failure, I completed the Beijing Marathon in 2010. All the lessons I learned from this experience contribute to my business philosophy.
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Thank you in advance for your comments!