Well, On The Bright Side . . .

Always be ready for the opportunities that may find you.

That is the lesson I am taking away from the situation involving the American start-up chief executive recently caught cheating on his wife because of a viral video from a Coldplay concert.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, in mid-July Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot went to a concert where they were holding onto each other tightly and watching the performance.

What normally happens at a big show like this is that a camera will zoom around the audience and locate couples who will then be visible on giant screens around the venue, called ‘jumbotrons’.

It’s usually called a ‘kiss cam’ and couples normally share some or other romantic gesture that the rest of the crowd applauds.

On this particular night, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin was interacting with the couples between songs and asking them ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to which they could nod or shake their heads.

When the camera landed on Byron and Cabot, instead of acting like a normal pair in love, Byron ducked behind the bannister and Cabot shielded her face from view. Chris Martin was confused by this and joked that they were either really shy or having an affair.

Byron and Cabot’s bizarre behaviour is what prompted the person who was filming this moment on their phone to post it to the internet, and it didn’t take long before online sleuths were investigating who the suspicious-acting lovers were and finding their full names, respective spouses and employment details.

This scene has now been seen by millions of people around the world and has made major news headlines.

Turns out Cabot is the head of human resources at the same firm as him – Astronomer.

She is currently on leave from the company, while Byron has resigned.

Isn’t it crazy that he chose to cheat with the one person who would normally warn him against fraternising with employees?
I’m a freelancer now, but I’ve also worked in offices.

I know all the debauchery that goes on. I remember joining these environments at around 19 years old and being stunned by how people’s fathers, mothers, husbands and wives behaved.

It’s truly wild, but honestly, that is not what I’m here to talk about today.

’m also not here to talk about the fact that this is something that can only happen in a surveillance state.

No, I’m here to speak about the other man whose life has been altered by this scandal.

The man who woke up one day with a gift in his lap that he could have never anticipated.

Pete DeJoy is an Astronomer co-founder and he has now been appointed as interim chief executive in the wake of Byron’s departure.

He released a statement on 21 July, in which he expressed shock over how things have unfolded.

A particular line stood out to me. He called the media attention “unusual and surreal”, and it sounded a little like he considered this a blessing in disguise.

I totally understand why he would feel that way. So many people around the world have been able to improve and completely change their lives because of going viral on the internet.

Sometimes it can have a negative effect on your life, but if you’re ready for it, you’ll be able to ride the wave of new attention like a boss and capitalise as quickly and as effectively as possible (only if you are in DeJoy’s position, not Byron’s).
Look at Uncle Waffles.

The South African DJ had one viral video two years ago and hasn’t stopped touring Europe and North America since.

She had about 5 000 Instagram followers before blowing up and is now a global superstar after a spontaneous moment was caught on camera.
But this is not about going viral.

It’s about the fact that Waffles was ready when her time came. She might not have been a big name, but she was organised, disciplined, had a competent team and trusted in herself enough to grab the opportunity with both hands.

If she had not been ready, she would not be where she is today. Many people go viral and are then forgotten the next week because they have no action plan.

It’s like that show about former lottery winners who squandered every last cent. If they weren’t able to manage the little money they had before, there was no way they would be ready for such a windfall. And so an opportunity slips through their fingers.

Astronomer is a data management firm which has now been thrust into the spotlight.

It has the chance to scale its business and push its brand. It’s really now just in the company’s hands to get the most out of having the world’s eyes on it.

Sometimes we ask God or the universe for certain things, but we never stop to think about whether we are in the mental, physical or spiritual position to receive them. What a waste.

That’s the lesson I took away from this. Always be ready!

– Anne Hambuda is a writer, social commentator and poet. Follow her online or email her at
annehambuda@gmail.com for more.

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