Questions that will get you fired- and why you should ask them anyway.

I am 25 and I’ve been fired 5 times. I wouldn’t say I view this statistic as an accomplishment, but I am not ashamed of it.

On none of these occasions was I caught stealing, hurting another person, or endangering the livelihood of the business. I never lied or cheated to get ahead. My fireable offenses were always chalked up to “poor fit.” In the moments, I was mortified. But, looking back on it- I wouldn’t do it differently.

I am a curious person, a self-proclaimed natural innovator. I respect tradition, but if there are process inefficiencies- I have to understand them. Very often, I yearn to fix them. In the wrong work environment, this can get me into trouble because some people are just happier sticking with the status quo. Even if the supervisor is sympathetic to the need for transformation, he/ she may not think it’s in his or her power to make changes due to the size of the parent organization. It turns out that helping someone realize their lack of influence is a clear way to ensure your termination.