"I used to take every loss personally. I was rejected from Cambridge, I lost my first three boxing matches, VCs passed, deals collapsed. And I'd lose control, trying to figure out what I did wrong. As time passed, I learned that the world doesn't punish you; it reveals you. A setback says, "something's not aligned-yet." Now I see setbacks as course corrections. You're not being punished, you're being prepared."
"Early in my career, my ambition often clashed with my career goal timeline. I thought I was ready for a promotion, but I hadn't yet learned that the business also needs to be ready for you to step into a new role (not just the other way around). As I grew into the executive level, I found balance in the following: keep driving forward, but recognize that not everything will follow my timeline-and that's okay."
Career obstacles are inevitable, and progress depends on how setbacks are interpreted and acted upon. Reframe losses as revelations that signal misalignment rather than punishment, using them as preparation and course correction. Specific setbacks can include academic rejection, athletic losses, failed funding, and collapsed deals. Ambition must be tempered with awareness that organizational timing and readiness matter for promotions and new roles. Maintain drive while accepting that not every milestone will match a personal timetable. Adaptation, continuous learning, and finding alternative paths enable forward movement through professional challenges.
Read at Fast Company
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