When a Goal Flops

Have you ever pursued a goal only to eventually realize that it’s just not working out?  This has happened to me, and I can tell you there’s nothing more frustrating.  After all, we usually don’t achieve goals because A) we purposely set them aside to focus on something more important or B) we get too busy (or lazy) and don’t give them the time and attention they deserve.   

But what about the times when we do everything we should do to make something happen, and we’re persistent about it, but despite herculean efforts we just don’t see results?   For example, from the time my friend was a child, she wanted to be an actress.  After she graduated from college, she attended workshops, spent money on headshots, went on hundreds of auditions, and networked like mad.   But several years later, my friend still had no results to speak of save one walk-on part on a network sitcom. 

My friend realized that the cosmos was trying to tell her that she was meant to do something else, but she had been tuning it out.  She started listening, and recalled how she’d helped a friend in marketing come up with one of the most successful brand names in that company’s history.  Now she’s an extremely successful independent naming consultant, pulling down a six figure salary and loving every minute of it.   

Sometimes, we may think we’re destined for something, only to find out that there’s an entirely different plan in place for us.  When you keep hitting a brick wall despite trying your damndest to achieve a certain outcome, perhaps that means you should look at other possibilities.  As a unique human being, you have your own brand of genius to offer the world – even if it’s not exactly what you thought at first.

Comments

[bob]

Regarding this article, I understand the point you want to give. But something tells me there are important details left out regarding your friend. I just can't believe that after hundreds of auditions she only had 1 performance to show for it. She didn’t do public theatre? teaching kids? Did she audition for Broadway? Did she do anything for myspace or youtube or per bono? These things would’ve helped in building her resume and making her more attractive.
I cant see that she didn’t try to hone her skills on things she did wrong on each audition. It means that from the beginning, she had limited talent.
Also now that she’s in a different field, does she continue to hobby her passion such as volunteer at plays or provide her expertise to children or others would want to pursue the arts. If she doesn’t that's knowledge wasted. I wish you could provide those missing details, since you skewed the article for a specific point. I don’t think it's real-world.

[Ian Tang]

Good message, I remember a prof telling us; sometimes you just need to tilt your head to get another perspective that can make all the difference. Like looking at your cv with an industry focus perspective, instead of just departmental.

@Bob, I think her point was to show she tried & tired. Otherwise the post might got off point.

Although I do agree that we need to try again & again coming from different angles. This topic was similar what I just posted about a few days back:
http://teachleadcareering.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/succeed-try-try-try-again/

[Alexandra Levit]

@Bob: You're right, I didn't include all the details I know. For example, she did teach kids, she did try for a graduate degree in theater, and she did audition in every place you can imagine. I think that maybe she didn't have the right look, and maybe there were in fact others who were more talented.

@Ian: Thanks for sharing your related post. The point about persistence is well taken.