What if losing your job wasn’t the end… but the beginning of something better?

In this episode of Happy Accidents, I sit down with Michelle Schafer, one of Ottawa’s top career coaches, to talk about how being laid off not once but twice led her to reinvent herself, discover her true calling, and launch a thriving career coaching practice.

You’ll learn:

• How to turn a layoff or restructuring into an opportunity for growth
• Why career transitions often open doors you didn’t see before
• The mindset shift that transforms job loss into a career reinvention
• Practical advice for navigating uncertainty and finding your purpose
• How Michelle built a coaching business that now helps others do the same

Whether you’re going through a career change, exploring life after layoffs, or looking for inspiration to pursue your next chapter, Michelle’s story will encourage you to see disruption not as the end... but as the turning point.

🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring stories of serendipity, rein

vention, and entrepreneurship

📖 Learn more about Michelle Schafer: https://mschafercoaching.ca

🤝Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleschafercoaching/

📗 Get her book Cultivating Career Growth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSFND9VF

He didn’t go to university.
He had no formal training.
He didn’t even know what a copywriter was.

But Andy Strote ended up founding two successful creative agencies in Toronto, landing massive clients like Ontario Hydro, Manulife, and CIBC — and eventually selling both companies in separate acquisitions.

In this episode of Happy Accidents, Andy shares his incredible journey from warehouse worker to creative entrepreneur, and how serendipity played a surprising role at every turning point.

🚪 From fake portfolios and mailroom connections...
🧾 To penny stocks that paid off big...
🤝 To clients who followed him everywhere...

This is a masterclass in how to recognize and act on unexpected opportunities — even when you have no clear plan.

👉 Learn how Andy:

• Landed a 6-year client deal through a casual office conversation

• Turned busyness into a business (twice!)

• Navigated two acquisition offers that landed the same day

• Sold a penny stock for $250k… after retirement

• Still uses creativity to build, teach, and give back

Whether you’re a freelancer, agency founder, or creative entrepreneur — this story will inspire you to stay open, stay ready, and bet on yourself.

🔗 Explore Andy’s books and blog:
https://www.creativeagencybook.com/

📚 Books mentioned:

• How to Start a Successful Creative Agency

• How to Become a Successful Creative Freelancer

🎧 Subscribe for more true stories of unexpected success

#CreativeEntrepreneur #FreelancerSuccess #AgencyLife #Serendipity #HappyAccidentsPodcast
#MarketingAgency #CopywritingCareer #EntrepreneurJourney #BusinessGrowth #FromFreelancertoFounder

Is success about willpower… or something more unpredictable?

In this unscripted and unedited episode of Happy Accidents, Dennis flips the script and explores the surprising connection between the famous Marshmallow Test and the role of serendipity in success.

You’ll hear why delayed gratification does matter... but also why it’s not the full story. Through real-world examples (like James Dyson’s journey), his TED Talk insights, and a candid take on free will, faith, and timing, Dennis breaks down the two possible paths we follow when chasing success and how unexpected opportunities often hold the key.

This is not your typical episode. No guests. No storytelling scripts. Just a mic, a message, and a refreshing perspective on what really moves the needle in life and business.

Here's the link to Dennis's TEDx Talk on serendipity: https://youtu.be/u_F6azldLTo

#HappyAccidents #Serendipity #MarshmallowTest #SuccessMindset #DelayedGratification #Entrepreneurship #FaithAndSuccess #LifeLessons #TEDTalkInsights #TrustTheProcess

What do a 450-pound tire, a back injury, and 60-second squats have in common?

For Michael Cassidy — everything.

In this episode of Happy Accidents, Michael shares how a devastating back injury, a pandemic career pivot, and a total lack of time to work out led to the unexpected birth of his fitness brand: the 60 Second Workouts App.

We explore:

• The accident that kickstarted his health journey
• Why “not having time to exercise” became his biggest business idea
• How he used LinkedIn to build an audience in tech + wellness
• The science behind micro workouts and why they actually work
• The power of small experiments and weird pivots that pay off

Michael proves you don’t need a perfect plan. Sometimes, the detour is the path.

Connect with Michael here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcassidy88/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@activeintech

Website: https://michaelcassidy.co/

🔔 Subscribe for more unexpected success stories!

Link to the article mentioned in the episode: https://dennisgeelen.me/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-recurring-revenue-how-to-build-a-subscription-based-business

What happens when you're pushed out of the business you built from scratch?

In this episode of Happy Accidents, I share the jaw-dropping true story of Kathleen King—the woman behind Tate’s Bake Shop.

Before it became a $500 million cookie empire, Kathleen was betrayed by her business partners, fired from the company that bore her name, and left to rebuild from ground zero. But instead of quitting, she started over—with a new name, the same recipe, and a fierce determination to do things her way.

Discover how a batch of chocolate chip cookies, a family name, and a whole lot of grit turned a crushing setback into one of the sweetest comebacks in entrepreneurial history. Perfect for fans of business resilience, accidental success, and food industry legends. 🍪

🔑 What you’ll learn:

• How Kathleen turned betrayal into billion-dollar success

• Why protecting your name and values matters

• The power of quality, consistency, and starting over

• A reminder that failure isn’t the end—it’s the fork in the road

Whether you're building a business or bouncing back from a setback, this one’s for you.

Did you know that your favorite colorful outfits owe everything to a teenager’s failed experiment? In 1856, William Henry Perkin was just 18 years old when he accidentally created mauveine—the world’s first synthetic dye—while trying to cure malaria. This vibrant purple shade, once reserved for royalty, took over the fashion world in a craze known as the “mauve measles.”

But Perkin’s discovery didn’t just change fashion. It revolutionized the textile industry, sparked the birth of synthetic dyes, and even led to advancements in medicine!

And here’s the crazy part, Perkin was able to retired at 36! All thanks to a happy accident.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• How Perkin’s failed experiment led to a fashion revolution
• The “mauve craze” that took over Europe
• How this discovery accidentally impacted medicine and industry
• Fun facts and surprising twists that shaped history

Watch the full episode now and find out the whole story.

And come visit my website at www.dennisgeelen.me to see what else I'm up to!

How Going Against the Grain Leads to Success – JG Francoeur on The Happy Accidents Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with serial entrepreneur JG Francoeur to talk about what it really takes to succeed in business. We dive into:

✅ Why going against the grain often leads to the biggest breakthroughs
✅ How being open to new opportunities can change your career trajectory
✅ The importance of constantly learning and adapting in entrepreneurship

JG shares his journey, lessons learned, and the mindset shifts that helped him build multiple successful businesses. If you're an entrepreneur looking for inspiration and practical insights, this episode is for you!

Grab a FREE copy of JG's book 'Messy Manager' here: https://messymanager.com/

🔔 And make sure you subscribe for more stories of accidental success!

Can you create your own luck?

In this episode, I share a real-life example of how a single email led to an unexpected chain of events—proving that serendipity is often just bold action in disguise.

Inspired by Sahil Bloom’s Curiosity Chronicle, we dive into the power of taking shots, building connections, and embracing uncertainty to unlock new opportunities.

You'll learn:

✅ How a simple DM changed Sahil Bloom’s book sales

✅ And I did exactly the same thing in return! Two great stories (intertwined) that you're not going to want to miss.

As promised, here's the link to Sahil's newsletter edition that sparked this episode: https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/how-to-create-your-own-luck

If you’re a solopreneur, creator, or business owner, this is your reminder to take more chances—you never know what doors might open!

👉 Follow me on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-geelen/

Twitter (X): https://x.com/dennis_geelen

Website: https://www.dennisgeelen.me