You Can Do Everything Right… and It Can Still Go Wrong. Don’t Quit.

A good friend recently reminded me of a truth that both stings and sets us free:

You can do everything right… and it can still go wrong. Don’t quit. Commit to the right next thing as best as you can.

That sentence sat with me.

Because I’ve lived it. Over and over. And odds are, if you’re reading this, so have you.

We’re taught early on—consciously or not—that effort leads to outcome. That if we check all the boxes, follow the playbook, show up early, stay late, and give everything we’ve got, then the reward will follow.

It’s a comforting narrative. Until life shatters it.

Because sometimes… you do everything right. And it still. Goes. Sideways.

When the Process Fails You

You built the pipeline, ran the cadence, nurtured the relationship, delivered the perfect pitch. You forecasted conservatively, managed expectations, and asked all the right questions. And the deal still fell apart in legal. Or stalled out in procurement. Or was lost to “do nothing.”

Or…

You poured your heart into a project, a team, or a dream… You worked the long hours, skipped the personal time, bet on the vision. And then a reorg swept it all away.

Or…

You invested in someone. Coached, mentored, advocated for them. And when it came time to stay the course—they left. Or they turned. Or they didn’t believe in you the way you believed in them.

Or…

You did the right thing. The ethical thing. The courageous thing.

And it cost you.

I’ve made very intentional decisions that I’d make again that sent me on a trajectory that at the time brought pain. And I’d do it again.

This Is the Part No One Prepares You For

It’s not just the failure. It’s the confusion that follows.

You sit with the wreckage and ask: “Did I miss something?” “Should I have done it differently?” “Why does this keep happening?” “Was any of it worth it?”

If you’re a high achiever—a heart-led leader, a mission-driven professional, or someone who lives to serve others—this is particularly brutal.

Because when you give it your all, when you play the long game, when you care that much, and it still falls apart…

It hurts in ways that numbers can’t show.

The Temptation to Quit

It doesn’t always look like quitting your job or walking away from your dream.

Sometimes, quitting is internal.

You stop caring quite as much. You stop trusting as easily. You lower your expectations, play it safer, speak up less.

You go from fully invested to barely protecting yourself.

I’ve been there. I’ve done the math on whether continuing to give my best is worth the pain of heartbreak when it doesn’t pan out. I’ve talked myself into being more “realistic,” more “guarded,” more “strategic.”

But in doing so, I also risked losing my fire.

And that’s the part we can’t allow.

What You Can Control

You can’t always control the outcome. You can’t always control the system, the timing, or the decisions made in back rooms you’ll never enter. But you can control your next step.

That’s what my friend reminded me of: Don’t quit. Commit to the right next thing as best as you can.

Not the perfect thing. Not the thing that guarantees applause or results or validation. Just the next right thing.

It might look like:

Reaching out to someone who encourages you.Getting feedback from a trusted mentor to recalibrate.Letting yourself rest for a bit without guilt.Taking five minutes to journal what you’re grateful for today.Picking up the phone and trying again—one more time.This Is for You, in Whatever You’re Facing

If you’re reading this and going through something that feels unfair or disheartening, I see you. And I want you to know you’re not alone.

Maybe you:

Lost the job you loved despite doing everything to save it.Worked yourself into burnout and feel like you have nothing left to give.Gave everything to a relationship—personal or professional—and now it’s gone.Have been hitting dead ends in your career and wondering if you’re even on the right path.Keep doing right by others, but it feels like no one sees it—or you.

Whatever it is… please hear me: You are not broken. You are not cursed. You are not failing.

You’re being forged.

You’re being prepared for something that may be just a little further down the road.

And the only thing you need to focus on is the next step that aligns with who you are and what you know to be good, true, and right.

Practical Advice for When It All Goes Wrong

When you’re in the fog, it can be hard to see clearly. So here’s some guidance I try to come back to:

1. Feel It Fully

Don’t bypass the pain. Acknowledge it. Journal. Talk to someone. Pray. Cry. This isn’t weakness—this is processing. You can’t heal what you pretend doesn’t hurt.

2. Audit the Situation

Ask yourself:

What was in my control?What wasn’t?What did I learn?How will this shape the way I lead/move/create going forward? 3. Anchor in Your Values

What are the non-negotiables about how you want to live, lead, love, and work? Re-ground yourself in those.

4. Take Micro-Steps

You don’t need a five-year plan. You need one next right move. Don’t overthink it—just act in alignment with your values.

5. Surround Yourself with Truth-Tellers

Find people who will call out your gifts even when you’ve forgotten them. People who will sit in the ashes with you without rushing to fix things, but will also remind you of your strength.

6. Remind Yourself Who You Are

Revisit your greatest hits. Read that message someone sent thanking you. Remember the wins. Not to inflate your ego—but to remember that your work does matter. That you matter.

The Real Success

In the end, success isn’t about always getting it right.

It’s about staying in the fight when it goes wrong.

It’s about being someone who keeps showing up, who keeps doing good work, who keeps investing in others, even when the returns aren’t immediate or obvious.

That’s who I want to be. That’s who I believe you are. And that’s who the world needs more of.

So no matter what has gone wrong lately…

Please don’t quit.

Choose courage over comfort.

Faith over fear.

Progress over perfection.

And simply take the right next step.

#LeadershipLessons #FaithInTheProcess #NextRightThing #Don’tQuit #Resilience #GrowthMindset #MotivationMonday #AuthenticLeadership #ThisTooShallPass