It must have been May 1989, a quiet day at the Industrial Engineering Department—not many people around. Then I ran into B. She looked like she’d found what she was after: someone to accompany her to the Management Faculty building, a decent walk and not ideal to do alone. I don’t remember why I was at the Department that day, but she convinced me to walk with her.
I ended up sitting two-thirds of the way up the back of a medium-sized classroom, where the seats gradually elevated to provide a clear view of the whiteboard, lectern, and podium. I sat quietly next to B., noticing—and even joking about—the strong Turkish Cypriot accent of one of the speakers. At the end, we were all asked to fill out a form. I can’t recall what was being collected, but whatever I wrote down was enough to secure an interview.
The Telegram
The invitation came by telegram—the only one I’ve ever personally received. A folded piece of paper with a short, formal message inviting me to attend an interview at a particular date, time, and venue. The fold acted like an envelope, preserving discretion but easy to open. It brought back a memory: as a child, I’d seen my parents receive telegrams—usually bearing news of someone’s death.
At the time, L. and G., two American exchange students travelling through Türkiye, were staying with me at my shared student flat in Ankara. When the telegram arrived, L. was ecstatic. She recognised Andersen Consulting and knew what it could mean.
Coaching in the Park
L. asked me to join her for a walk. As we wandered through the streets, she coached me for the interviews. She talked me through the types of questions I might face, and how to approach them thoughtfully and clearly. I remember thinking: American universities must teach these things!
She told me:
“Take your time. Understand the question before jumping in. Ask for clarification if needed.”
She also passed on a trick I never forgot:
“Give three reasons. Start with: ‘There are three reasons why I chose to…’ They’ll forget you said three, but it sounds confident.”
The Interviews
After three back-to-back interviews and a few weeks of waiting, I was offered the job. They had interviewed hundreds of candidates and selected just three from my university. I’m sure L.’s advice gave me an edge.
To this day, I’m not quite sure why they picked me. I wasn’t the top student. My English was average, and one of the interviews was in English. I wore a summer jacket—the only one I could find in the house, and certainly not one suited for the occasion—while others arrived in neatly pressed navy suits. And yet, the job was mine.
A Life Shaped by One Telegram
That moment launched what became my lifelong career in consulting. It shaped how I think, how I work, how I approach problems. It took me to new countries, introduced me to different industries, and satisfied a part of me that’s always been curious and inquisitive.
And I still wonder sometimes:
What would I be doing if I hadn’t become a consultant?
Thank you, B. and L., for unknowingly creating the moment that changed everything. You helped instigate a career—a life—I could never have planned.
Anatomy of a Coincidence
A reflective look beneath the story
What Happened
In May 1989, I unexpectedly accompanied a friend, B., to an event I hadn’t planned to attend. A speaker’s accent caught my attention. A form I filled out on a whim led to a telegram—the only one I’ve ever received—inviting me to a job interview. That moment led to a lifelong career in consulting.
Later, one of the visitors staying in my student flat, L., helped me prepare for the interviews. She knew the world I was about to step into and shared advice I still remember.
At the time, it all felt minor. Looking back, it shaped my life.
Interpreting the Coincidence
Coincidence: A Remarkable Concurrence Without Causal Link
“A remarkable concurrence of events without an apparent causal link.”
I wasn’t meant to be at the department that day.
I ran into B. by chance and joined her.
I filled out a form with no real expectations.
L., who happened to know the consulting world, was there to guide me.
Each element is ordinary on its own, yet together they form a pattern that feels improbable and meaningful.
Serendipity: When Chance Meets Readiness
This was a classic case of serendipity.
Chance: Random presence at the department, spontaneous walk, unplanned form submission.
Readiness: I took the opportunity seriously, sought advice, prepared thoughtfully.
Outcome: A discovery that changed the shape of my career and life.
Serendipity is not just about what happens to us. It’s how we engage with what happens.
Synchronicity: When Inner and Outer Worlds Align
There’s also a layer of synchronicity, especially in hindsight.
I was at a turning point, finishing my studies and needing a job.
A telegram—once associated with bad news in childhood—delivered a new beginning.
L.’s guidance arrived at exactly the right time.
Carl Jung would see this as a meaningful coincidence, not caused by external forces but reflecting an inner state of readiness intersecting with external opportunity.
Chaos Theory: Small Causes, Big Effects
This story also mirrors the principles of chaos theory, especially sensitivity to initial conditions.
One small decision—agreeing to a walk—set off a nonlinear chain:
Walk → Event → Form → Telegram → Interview → Lifelong career
This isn’t mystical. It’s how complex systems behave. A slight shift in starting conditions can redirect the course of an entire life.
Summary of Forces at Play
Coincidence: Multiple unexpected convergences without clear causal links
Serendipity: Chance event + insight, action, and reflection
Synchronicity: Alignment of timing, internal need, symbolic form (telegram), external guide (L.)
Chaos Theory: A small act led to large-scale, long-term impact
Psychological Insight: Trust, openness, memory, meaning-making, and gratitude
Personal Meaning
This moment has become part of my personal mythology—not in the sense of fiction, but as a story I return to when trying to understand how my life has taken shape.
The closing thought—“I wonder what I would be doing if I hadn’t become a consultant”—speaks to how one memory can anchor identity, values, and even the sense of time.
Final Reflection
This wasn’t just something that happened to me—it was something I shaped through choice, attention, and effort.
Meaning doesn’t arrive on its own.
We give it shape by how we respond.
Coincidences become significant not because they are magical, but because we’re paying attention.
Note: To protect the privacy of individuals mentioned, only initials are used.
Explore More on Coincidences
To explore coincidences more deeply, dive into the content below:
Part 1: Understanding Coincidence – Between Chance, Meaning, and Complexity
https://coincidences.substack.com/p/part-1-understanding-coincidence
Chapter 1: The Mathematics of Surprise
https://coincidences.substack.com/p/chapter-1-the-mathematics-of-surprise
Chapter 2: Synchronicity
https://coincidences.substack.com/p/chapter-2-synchronicity
Chapter 3: Serendipity
https://coincidences.substack.com/p/chapter-3-serendipity
Chapter 4: Religious and Spiritual Perspectives
https://coincidences.substack.com/p/chapter-4-religious-and-spiritual
Chapter 5: Network Science
https://coincidences.substack.com/p/chapter-5-network-science