Accidental Consequences

Recently I was driving back home from a long road trip and was listening to a program on the radio station BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). The BBC is a nice break from the streamlined stations here (I have more to say on that subject later) and I usually listen to it in the mornings during the week and had not heard this Sunday night program.

The interviewer was talking to three business men (yes, all men) who's jobs effected the international realm. One was in the medical field formulating new types of medicine, another was a business consultant (and his job description was vague), and the third had opened up movie theaters (mostly in Europe although he was originally from America).

The commentator in his cool English accent asked each of them what kind of accidental consequences have they or their firm experienced that brought them to the place they were today. The medical guy said they were studying one drug for one type of disease and discovered that it helps prevent some sort of cancer. The consultant had discovered some sort of miracle face cream that really fight wrinkles (it is not out yet and he was still open to name suggestions). The third had walked by a movie theater filled with load music and young people when a middle aged couple walked in and then turned around and left the theater in discouragement. Seeing the couples response spurred this business man to buy the movie theater (and then many others after) so that he could design theaters for all age groups (complete with bean bags and rocking chairs).

I started thinking about what my accidental consequence was in my life. I really don't believe in "accidents," but I do believe sometimes we are going down one direction and we end up somewhere else taking us to our place we are today. What is your "accidental" consequence?