Cell Phones, Ubers and Kindness: The unexpected lessons from a lost phone (and a Sherlock Holmes adventure) 

A few weeks ago, I did what many of us have done at one point or another  –  I left my cell phone in an Uber. Now, you might think, “Big deal, right? Phones are replaceable.” But oh no, this was a full-blown life lesson wrapped in a comedy of errors, with a dash of detective work, and a generous sprinkle of kindness.

LESSON 1: Back up EVERYTHING… seriously

Let’s start with the obvious: I learned, the hard way, that relying on a single device is a risk. No backup codes, no set-up alternative accounts, just me, my phone, and a sinking feeling in my stomach. I spent an entire day frantically trying to recover my digital life – banking, passwords, contacts – like a digital Indiana Jones. So, do yourself a favour: back-up your stuff, set up those recovery options, and maybe take a moment to organise your digital life. Because if you don’t, the universe will find a way to remind you.

LESSON 2: Be ready for the unexpected

Here’s where the adventure kicks in. I was irate at myself, but after a good dose of self-flagellation, I decided I wasn’t going down without a fight. I became a full-on sleuth. Using the Uber receipt emailed to me, I tracked down the license plate of the driver’s car. That’s right – I channeled Sherlock Holmes, minus the deerstalker hat (though I considered it).

From there, the investigation took a wild turn. I managed to find the car listed for sale on Facebook through the registration number. I contacted the seller and, through a chain of kindness and persistence, got in touch with the driver’s wife. Six hours of my life, countless Google searches, and a few moments of “what am I even doing?” later, I had my phone back.

LESSON 3: Grit gets you through – and sometimes laziness helps

Yes, it was a marathon of determination, but it also made me realise that sometimes, laziness fuels creativity. When I hit dead ends, I found other ways. When I was ready to give up, I kept going. Because here’s the thing: grit isn’t just about working hard; it’s about being resourceful, resilient, and maybe a little stubborn.

LESSON 4: Kindness wins

The true heart of this story? The kindness I encountered along the way. The owner of the car, after I explained my situation, was incredibly helpful and understanding. The driver, who had to do a 60-minute detour just to return my phone with a smile, reminded me why we do what we do – because people are good.

And here’s the big takeaway for all of us in the events industry, or any business, really: be kind to your colleagues, your suppliers, and even yourself. We’re all juggling a million things, making mistakes, and sometimes, losing our phones or our patience. But a little patience, a lot of kindness, and that grit can turn even the craziest mishap into a story worth telling  –  and a lesson worth learning.

So, next time you’re tempted to roll your eyes at a tech mishap or a scheduling snafu, remember: behind every chaos is an opportunity for kindness, resilience, and maybe, just maybe, a little detective work.

(And maybe, keep a backup plan  –  just in case).

Stay kind, stay resilient, and keep those phones close (and backed-up) fellow Eventurers!

Devi Paulsen-Abbott