Heidrun Juge: The Most Embarrassing Day of My Life

By Heidrun Juge
Let me tell you about the most embarrassing day of my life. It was a beautiful summer day, and I was feeling confident as I walked into the office. I had just finished a big project, and I was excited to share it with my boss.
I walked into his office and smiled. "Good morning, sir," I said. "I finished the project you gave me."
He looked up from his computer and smiled back. "That's great, Heidrun," he said. "Let me see it."
I handed him the file and watched as he read through it. His expression didn't change, but I could tell he was impressed.
"This is excellent work, Heidrun," he said. "I'm very happy with it."
I beamed. "Thank you, sir," I said.
"I have one question though," he said. "On page 12, you wrote 'the customer is always write.'"
I froze. I knew exactly what I had done. I had made a typo. I had written "write" instead of "right."
I wanted to die. I couldn't believe I had made such a stupid mistake.
"Oh my god," I said. "I'm so sorry. I meant to write 'the customer is always right.'"
My boss laughed. "Don't worry about it, Heidrun," he said. "It's just a typo."
I was so relieved. I thought I was going to get fired.
"Thank you, sir," I said. "I'm just glad you didn't fire me."
He laughed again. "I'm not going to fire you, Heidrun," he said. "You're a valuable employee."
I smiled. "Thank you, sir," I said.
I left my boss's office and went back to my desk. I was still embarrassed about the typo, but I was also relieved that I hadn't lost my job.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Always proofread your work before you turn it in. And never make the same mistake twice.
A few years later, I was working on a different project when I made another typo. This time, I wrote "the customer is always write" in an email to a client.
I was so embarrassed that I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I immediately sent the client an apology email, explaining that I had made a typo.
The client was very understanding. He said that he had made typos before too. He also said that he was impressed with my work and that he was looking forward to working with me again.
I was so relieved. I had learned my lesson from the first typo, and I was determined to never make the same mistake again.
I'm happy to say that I haven't made any typos since then. I'm also happy to say that I'm still working for the same client.
Heidrun Juge is a writer and editor. She has worked for a variety of clients, including businesses, non-profits, and individuals. She is passionate about helping people communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.