I got fired twice before I turned 30. It was the best thing that happened in my career.
Alex Stephany, founder of Beam, reflects on how being fired twice early in his career helped him develop the resilience needed to become a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the initial shame and uncertainty he felt after failing in traditional corporate roles.
Why it matters
It provides a counter-narrative to the stigma of unemployment, highlighting how career setbacks can serve as catalysts for personal and professional growth.
Alex Stephany says getting fired twice made him a better CEO. Courtesy of Alex Stephany Alex Stephany was fired from roles as a lawyer and a consultant. The experiences were terrifying, and he worried he didn't have the skills he needed to succeed. When he became an entrepreneur the difficulties of being unemployed helped him get ahead. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alex Stephany , founder of Beam. It has been edited for length and clarity. I was always a good student, but when I graduated from Oxford and entered the workforce, I immediately felt like a fish out of water. One of my first weekends working as a lawyer, I went on a corporate retreat . I remember feeling that everyone else in the room was much better suited to the work of being a lawyer than I was.
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