At rock bottom and jobless, I was desperate. My cousin told his boss I was a “data wizard”—I didn’t even own a laptop. The job was remote, so he spent two weeks coaching me nightly over video calls, creating fake projects and mock interviews.
I landed the job, thanks to all his efforts. When the boss eventually found out, he just laughed, calling me their “best fake hire ever.” I’ve been promoted twice since, but to my cousin, I’m still the Data Wizard.
Story 8
When I was 9, I accidentally broke my older brother’s prized soccer trophy right before his tryouts. I was too scared to admit it and sat crying in the hall.
My dad saw what happened, glued the trophy back (poorly), and told my brother he’d dropped it while dusting. My brother didn’t get mad. He hugged Dad and said, “It’s okay.”
Years later, at his wedding, I confessed. He just smiled and said, “I knew. But watching Dad take the blame meant more than that trophy ever did.”
