Personal and Professional Transformation after 9/11
Source: Carmine Gallo
Like you I’m reflecting on that tragic day ten years ago. I was 3,000 miles from Ground Zero, working as a journalist for a technology-focused television network in San Francisco. Although my co-workers and I were glued to the television screen as the towers fell, we were also scrambling to cover the story as best we knew how. I did have one random thought running through my head all day: where was our leadership? The CEO wasn’t around, nor was the Vice President of programming. Forty-eight hours later we had yet to hear from them �C not in person, not by email, not by phone. Where the heck where they? They were, in fact, traveling. Not for the sake of the company but to distribute their resumes and to interview for new positions. The dot-com boom had recently turned to a bust and they knew the television station would soon shut its doors. Those of us working our butts off had no clue, of course. It was then that that I realized that our leaders―the emperors who I once “admired”―did indeed have no clothes.
On Friday of that week my wife and I attended a prayer service for the victims and their families. It was the first time I could take a breather from my work at the television network and really contemplate the terrifying events of that day. I got choked up thinking about the victims and those brave responders who sacrificed their lives. The firefighters and rescue personnel did not carry the title of CEO, but I found myself admiring them far more than any manager I’ve ever worked for. That was the turning point. I decided, if I can’t work for an inspiring leader, I’ll become my own leader and build a career writing and speaking about those rare individuals who can inspire others to greatness.
Within a few weeks I had left the television station to start my own company. As the economy was crumbling in the aftermath of 9/11 I had gone from a six-figure salary to zero and, to top if off, we had just purchased a new home. But strangely, we were not worried. We had faith, not just in a spiritual sense, but faith in America and in ourselves. We had faith that we would attract clients. We had faith that we would find a way to pay our bills. And we had faith in the strength of our country to meet any challenge.
-Carmine
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