People Who Got Fired and Then Changed Their Lives

            Getting fired, laid off, or otherwise let go can be an awful thing to happen to anyone. It can feel devastating, losing one’s main or even only source of income, and being cast into an already chaotic and oftentimes crazy world without a lifejacket. Even if one truly hated the job they were let go from, and even if they fortunate enough to not be living paycheck to paycheck, it can be a huge blow to one’s ego. Being let go can make one feel useless and hopeless, and can even make a person question their worth and place in the vast and often unforgiving Universe.

            But occasionally, being let go can be the best thing that can happen to someone. Sometimes, it can lead to someone finding an even better path in life. A few examples include…

1)    Guy Laliberté

            Laliberté had spent much of his early adulthood working as a street performer and busking. He hitchhiked all over his native country of Canada and performed, which he absolutely loved. Eventually he did decide to settle down, getting a job at a hydroelectric dam in Quebec. Shortly afterwards Laliberté was let go.

            Guy Laliberté then formed Cirque de Soleil, creating a worldwide phenomenon in the process, along with becoming one of Canada’s richest people. He has also worked as a professional poker player and gone into space.

2)    Liam Neeson

The actor Liam Neeson is known for his acclaimed roles in films such as

“Schindler’s List,” “Star Wars: Episode I,” “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and the “Taken” movies, among many more. But before eventually finding success with acting, Neeson tried a variety of things. He studied both physics and computer science in college, worked as a forklift operator, and tried out to be a professional football (known as soccer in America) player.

            But it was when Neeson was training to be a teacher that he got fired. While attempting to teach a class full of rambunctious (to say the least) students, one of the kids actually pulled a knife on Neeson. Little did the kid know that the future actor had been trained in boxing since he was nine, and was thus very surprised when Liam Neeson punched him.

            Liam Neeson was fired soon after that. He then went on to portray the mentor and teacher of both Batman and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

3)    Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Abdul-Mateen II’s original plan was to work as an architect. While in college he

did take an acting class as an elective, and absolutely fell in love with the craft. However, he stuck with his first love of architecture (he probably also figured it was a safer career choice), and worked as a city planner in San Francisco after graduating from college.

            Unfortunately Yahya Andul-Mateen II got laid off.

            Feeling drawn again to his love of acting, Abdul-Mateen II went back to school, earning an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He now has a growing and successful acting career, with starring roles in “The Greatest Showman,” “Aquaman,” and the HBO series “Watchmen.”