Working on it! · Interviews · Quick Lesson

The Broken Tooth and the Mantra That Carried Me

How a broken front tooth the day before a client interview did not ruin my chance.

Length: 5 minutes For: anyone who fears one bad thing will ruin their shot Updated: 2026-06-24 (v1) Part of: Research the Client First

"Something went wrong right before my interview. I almost backed out."

A moment of fear we all know

Let me tell you what happened to me. The day before my client interview, I had a dental accident. My front tooth was broken, cut in half. I felt shy. Of course I did. But I did not back out.

My mantra when I apply for a job is simple: give my best, and let God take care of the rest. So I managed my confidence, broken tooth and all, and I showed up. The show must go on. And the interview went well, because the part that mattered was already done. I had researched the client. My answers were ready. A broken tooth could change how I looked. It could not touch what I had prepared.

Why the chance survived

Preparation outlasts a bad day. The thing that wins an interview is not a perfect smile. It is showing the client you understand them. That was researched and ready before the tooth ever broke. Do the preparation, and one thing going wrong cannot undo you.

Practice. Separate the surface from the substance.

  • Named the thing I am afraid will go wrong
  • Noticed it is mostly about how I will look, not what I prepared
  • Made sure the substance, my research and answers, is ready
  • Decided to show up and give my best regardless

Next step

Hold steady, BFF Team. We keep going together.

– Lala