You know, when someone mentions the phrase “partido del vida,” my mind doesn’t jump to some grand, philosophical concept. Nah, it takes me back to a very specific, very real period in my life. It wasn’t a game on a field, not really, but it sure felt like one. A high-stakes match where every move counted, and losing wasn’t an option I wanted to consider.
The Unexpected Kick-off
It all started rather suddenly, as these things often do. I was cruising along, thought I had things figured out, you know? Then, bam! The company I was with, a place I’d poured years into, decided to “restructure.” That’s the fancy word they use when they’re about to turn your world upside down. Suddenly, I was out. No warning, just a “thanks for your service, here’s a box for your stuff.”
Felt like the whistle blew and the game started, and I wasn’t even sure what sport we were playing. My first move? Panic. Pure, unadulterated panic. I had bills, a family, the whole shebang. Sitting around moping wasn’t going to pay the mortgage, though. So, I dusted myself off, or tried to, anyway.
Playing the Field
The next few months were a blur. It was like being a free agent, but nobody was scouting. Every single day was about making calls, sending out resumes, trying to network. Talk about a grind. I must have rewritten my resume a dozen times. Each rejection, and there were plenty, felt like conceding a goal. You start to doubt yourself, you really do. Am I good enough? Was it me? All those lovely thoughts.
I remember one particular week. I had three interviews lined up.
- The first one, they loved me, or so they said. Then, silence. Ghosted, as the kids say.
- The second one, the job description was a fantasy. The reality was something else entirely, something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
- The third one, I thought I nailed it. Got the “we’ll be in touch.” Spoiler: they weren’t.
It was tough. Really tough. My “game strategy” had to change constantly. I started looking at different fields, things I hadn’t considered before. I even took a few online courses to pick up some new skills, trying to make myself a more versatile player, so to speak. That was a humbling experience, going back to being a student after all those years.
The Turning Point
Then, out of the blue, a call came. Not from a big, fancy corporation, but from a smaller outfit, a startup. They weren’t offering a huge salary, not initially. But they were offering a challenge, a chance to build something. The interview was less of an interrogation and more of a conversation. They were looking for someone who wasn’t afraid to get their hands dirty, someone who could adapt. It felt…different.
I thought about it long and hard. It was a risk. Startups are notorious, right? Could be a flash in the pan. But something told me this was the right move. Maybe it was desperation, maybe it was intuition. Who knows? I took the plunge. Best decision I ever made in that particular “partido.”
The Final Whistle (For That Game, Anyway)
The work was insane. Long hours, tight deadlines, constant pressure. But it was also incredibly rewarding. We were a small team, fighting tooth and nail. It wasn’t just a job; it felt like we were on a mission. And slowly, surely, we started winning. Small victories at first, then bigger ones. That little startup grew, and I grew with it.
Looking back, that whole “restructuring” fiasco, the part that felt like a devastating loss, was actually the kick-off to a much more interesting game. It forced me to re-evaluate, to adapt, to fight. That “partido del vida” taught me more about resilience and a good offense than any self-help book ever could. Sometimes, the toughest matches are the ones that make you who you are. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade that experience. It was hell while I was in it, but it shaped me. It really did.
