Expect the Unexpected

A hangover has never felt so good.

Yesterday at this exact time, I was the unemployed writer of a blog on my journey through unemployment.

I had one follower and a handful of loyal friends who were following along.

Today I am still unemployed, but am incredibly overwhelmed by the reaction to my blog being posted at businessinsider.com.

More than 16,000 hits later, plus a bunch of comments -- some of which that were even positive -- and now I have 13 followers.

It has never been my goal to become the most popular unemployed guy in America, but after writing a couple of blogs, I was really hoping that my journey could inspire others with similar stories.

That being said, I never expected this.

I never expected to hear from a lady “in her 40’s”, who was unemployed for eight months before having to move her family across the country to take the only job she had been offered.

She said that she “sincerely hopes that something positive comes to me as a result of my blog”.

Thank you and it already has.

I never expected to hear from a sweet girl in LA who said she “has nothing” (no husband, no boyfriend, no job), but it helps to read that "the grass isn’t as green as it looks over there".

I never expected to hear from an anonymous person who said they are in “virtually the same situation” -- 40 years old with 2 kids and a supportive wife -- who was let go from his company during a “Restructuring” after 16-years of pouring out his heart and soul.

I never expected to hear from a stranger in Michigan who said they are rooting for me and thanked me for putting this on the web.

I never expected to hear from a girl in Vancouver who said that “even us employed people can relate to your journey.” She thanked me and said that there a whole team of people rooting for me now.

I never expected to hear from a man in England who said it “does cut the deepest when you know there were many others you worked hard for, even the juniors, who came to you for help, cried on your shoulder, whom you picked up and carried along and they have their positions open and are flourishing off the back of your work, how they suddenly turn away and show you what ungrateful trolls people can become”.

I never expected to hear from an anonymous person who said that my story has touched them and congratulated me for my “courage”.

I never expected to hear from a man who said he read my entire blog, complimented my writing and suggested I pursue it as my next career.

I never expected to hear that I should be on twitter.

I never expected to hear from someone in New Zealand who suggested I start my own business so that I am not “at the mercy of others”.

I never expected to hear from a man who is trying to put together a TV show and just wanted to talk about my experiences.

I never expected to hear from someone in month three of their unemployment who said my blog gives them “reason to smile.”

I never expected to hear from someone who said my blog was “inspiring”.

And then they thanked me.

ME?

No, thank you!