re: What is the biggest variable that can derail a career/life ?

I'd say grades/school success honestly. Not saying straight As guarantees it, but it sure as hell makes life later on much easier if you don't slack arse in high school.and college.

I've seen a significant injury or illness wreck lives permanently, even after recovery.

quote:

---

I'm going with drug addiction. I've got an old buddy that is a drug addict and just can't get his shite straight. 40 years old now, divorced, two kids, lost every job he's ever had, doesn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. The guy is the epitome of a train wreck and always blames everyone else for his situation. It is so bad that I will not let him know where my house is since I've moved nine months ago, as I won't let him around my wife and son

---

Yeah, drugs cause a hell of a lot of issues with career and family, but mid life abuse is usually a symptom of something else happening..

I deal with high school kids for a living so I'm going to say that having shitty parents can certainly derail a kid's life right out of the gates. Some of them are smart and aware enough of their positive surroundings when not with their parents to be able take on more positive attitude and make their own way and be successful, but the vast majority keep practicing the shitty traits that their parents exposed them to.

They probably do now but it still set them back a great deal whether you admit it or not. The majority of them probably all filed bankruptcy or some shite in the process and that follows you for 10 years before it rolls off though you can buy a house in a little over 2 years IIRC.

I am not saying it is unrecoverable, but it is definitely a factor in derailing many people's lives for a period of time.

Mental illness is a bitch and is to blame for a lot of issues people face today as far as personal crisis goes.

I lived for a few months at the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains about 40 miles north of Anchorage about 15 years ago. There was a business man who walked up a short road to the road I was on, and then walked a mile or so to the hwy connecting to Anchorage where he caught a bus and commuted. Like clockwork, the same time every day this man dressed in expensive suits and carrying a briefcase made the same walk. A very pleasant gentleman, we would wave to each other occasionally and he was always smiling. Slowly over time his appearance began to change, beard started growing, suits looking a bit worn and wrinkled. Then, he stopped going every day for a few weeks until he stopped altogether. Neighbor told me he made this same trip every day for more than 10 years and was a high ranking official with an oil company in Anchorage.

Finally we heard that the police did a welfare check on his residence and found his body, along with his wifes body. Something happened and set in quickly. No drugs or illness was detected during autopsy. His wife's journal indicated an onset of mental illness in the man that had no previous indication

I had a friend who was a high school counselor who tried to get the word out that all undergard degrees are basically the same, but going tens of thousands in debt for a shiteball degree is life crippling. My cousin won't get out of it until he's 40-50.

quote:

---

Maybe, but point is, they recovered.

---

No, the point is that it derailed their lives and possibly careers, even if for a short period, which is what the thread is about. I am saying that more people get divorced than the other things mentioned so I would think it would be #1 for that reason.

Agree to disagree