Sometimes, an unexpected accident becomes the most profound project of your life. It doesn’t just disrupt your plans — it tests whether you can find new ways to overcome challenges and accomplish what once seemed impossible.
On July 11, 2025, it started as just another ordinary day. In the morning, I conducted an Agile training session at the Examination Yuan in Taipei for government agencies and their vendors. Afterward, I checked into the Taipei Garden Hotel, ready to rest and prepare for the next day. Little did I know, a simple shower would become the turning point.
The water splashed out of the bathroom, and I stepped onto the slippery floor. My entire body tilted, and my left elbow took the full force of my fall. Crack. I heard the unmistakable sound of my bone snapping. The sharp, searing pain nearly knocked me off my feet.
In the middle of the night, I went to the emergency room at Heping Hospital, where the X-ray confirmed: a fracture in my left elbow. The doctor calmly told me, “This will take at least three months to heal.” But what flashed through my mind was: in just one month, it will be the PM-ABC 20th Anniversary and the Global Agile CEO Awards. As the organizer, how could I possibly go on stage with a cast?
From Three Months to a Five-Week Miracle
A few days later, the General Manager of Taipei Garden Hotel personally delivered a letter of apology, expressing regret for the accident and promising to review the bathroom’s design and anti-slip measures. He even proactively offered to cover my medical expenses. But I replied that, in fact, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance had already taken care of most of the costs.
What I truly needed was not compensation, but sincerity — and this letter showed that the hotel was taking the matter seriously. When I received that letter, I actually felt relieved. Perhaps it was precisely because of such goodwill that I was able to let go of the frustration from the accident more quickly and focus on my recovery.
Fortunately, fate sent me a guiding light. The following Monday, I met Dr. Pin-Chuan Chen, an exceptionally dedicated orthopedic specialist at Taipei City Hospital. After reviewing my X-rays, the very first thing he said was, “This isn’t serious — let’s take off that cast!” In just three days, I was freed from the heavy restraint of the plaster. At that moment, I could have shouted my gratitude to the heavens.
Instead of taking the conservative “wait three months” approach, Dr. Chen taught me how to actively rehabilitate, emphasized the importance of calcium and high-protein intake to accelerate bone healing, and even discussed the option of undergoing a fast-recovery surgery (costing NT$80,000 out of pocket). In the end, we decided to rely on intensive rehab and therapeutic injections to speed up recovery.
Five weeks later, I was truly able to step onto the stage and lift the heavy trophy. The doctor was astonished and said, “No one recovers from a fracture to this extent in just five weeks.” Perhaps this was the perfect blend of professional expertise, luck, and relentless determination.
Challenges Behind the Grand Ceremony
On August 16, two major ceremonies were held back-to-back. To the audience, that night appeared to be a flawless celebration. But only my team and I knew how many challenges and last-minute adjustments were hidden behind the scenes.
With my left arm weakened, I couldn’t pin badges onto the PM-ABC instructors as originally planned. So, we redesigned the process: I would indicate the position, and our ceremonial ambassadors would pin the badges on behalf of me. What seemed like a small adjustment actually made the ceremony feel even more polished and dignified.
When presenting the crystal trophy, which weighed a full 1 kilogram, even the slightest slip of my weakened left hand could have been disastrous. Thankfully, our ceremonial ambassador stayed by my side the entire time, never letting go until I had a firm grip. That seamless coordination was the result of two months of repeated rehearsals and the incredible dedication of our volunteer team.
On stage, everyone saw me standing tall, smiling confidently, and greeting the audience with pride. What they didn’t see was the struggle behind the scenes — the countless nights I couldn’t sleep, the daily challenge of showering with only one hand, and the endless rehearsals and unwavering support from my team that made that moment possible.
From Disaster to Gratitude
This accident taught me three valuable lessons.
First, a simple pair of non-slip slippers — costing just NT$50 — could have prevented the entire fracture. If I had been prepared that day, none of the troubles that followed would have happene
Second, the older we get, the slower our bodies recover. Taking calcium supplements and high-protein nutrition every day is like reinforcing a building with stronger cement and columns — it gives your bones the materials they need to heal faster.
Third, and most importantly: gratitude. I’m grateful for the doctor who was willing to take risks to accelerate my recovery, grateful for my family who cared for me, and even more grateful for my incredible team who supported me unconditionally.
This was my first-ever fracture and, coincidentally, the most unforgettable ceremony of my life. Perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence at all. Maybe fate placed these two events together to remind me that challenges aren’t meant to stop us — they exist to teach us to cherish, to collaborate, and to persevere.
The entire journey — from the accident to the ceremony to recovery — felt like an unexpected yet unavoidable project. I had no choice but to face it, adapt, and adjust. From prevention and risk management to on-the-spot problem-solving and teamwork, every step mirrored the essence of project management in real life.
And so, when I look back on this experience, I realize: this wasn’t just an injury; it was a “life project.” It taught me that whether in life or in management, true value doesn’t come from having a perfect plan — it comes from our ability to face unexpected challenges with courage, professionalism, and gratitude, and to see them through to completion.