That Didn’t Work Out as I Planned

Recently, something happened in my life that I wasn’t expecting. The details of what happened aren’t important. The real issue for all of us is this: “It didn’t work out as planned—now what?”

We’ve all been there. We invest time, effort, and energy into a plan. We believe we've covered all the angles and considered every obstacle—yet we still don’t get what we wanted or expected. What made my situation even worse was that I had nothing to do with what happened. It happened to me. I didn’t cause it, and I could never have seen it coming.

So, now the question becomes: What do you do next?

I’ve learned that the first step is to take a step back, pause, and assess the whole situation before reacting. Let’s not do something that will make things worse. Life doesn’t always come with a “fix” button. Some things are simply unchangeable. So, when you're faced with a situation you can’t change… you change.

I live by one premise: as long as I’m breathing, nothing is final. Resilience isn’t just about avoiding panic—it’s about rebounding with a new purpose, a new plan, and a new outcome in mind.

I have no intention of fighting reality. Arguing with what is only adds frustration to an already difficult situation. Acceptance isn’t giving up—it’s stepping into clarity. It’s saying, “This is where I am. Now, how do I live with it, grow through it, or move forward in spite of it?”

We all need to shift our focus from what we can’t control to what we can. We can’t change the weather, but we can carry an umbrella. We can’t change the past, but we can choose how it shapes our future. Our attitude, mindset, response, and next step are always within our control.

If you can’t change it, change yourself within it. Learn. Grow. Adapt. Let it refine you—not define you. That’s where real power lies—not in controlling everything, but in staying grounded when you can’t. I heard it said years ago: “If plan A doesn’t work, don’t worry—there are 25 more letters in the alphabet.”

In business or life, just because your intended ending didn’t happen doesn’t mean the story is over. It means the story is different. And different doesn’t always mean worse—it often means better, in a way we can’t yet see.

Many times, the finality of knowing we can’t change it actually clarifies our decision-making. So no, we can’t change it… but we can rise above it, adjust and keep going—embracing the challenge and turning the struggle into strength.

No, our story isn’t over.

It’s just evolving.