What if something not working out…works out?
Have you ever had something not work out the way you had hoped…only to find that things worked out even better than you had planned?
A number of years ago I interviewed for a role I was really excited about. I spent hours upon hours talking with people close to the role, working on a customized resume and cover letter, preparing for the presentation assignment, and practicing interview questions.
As I made it through round after round, I was cautiously optimistic. Excited about the possibility, nervous about the next interview. Trying not to get my hopes up, but also invested in doing everything I could to show I was the right person for the job.
And then the news came. I was their second choice. The role would not be mine.
I was devastated. At the time, it was hard to see what the future could hold now that the door I wanted so badly to walk through was shut.
What I didn’t know at the time was that just a few weeks later I would be dealing with a significant personal challenge that would require more mental and emotional energy than I could have predicted.
Had I gotten the role, I would be balancing establishing myself with a new team, increased scope, and greater responsibility, while navigating personal unknowns. I would have found a way, but it would have cost me greatly.
Instead, I was able to continue my work in a role that was familiar and meaningful, with a team and manager who were supportive and understanding. While my career wasn’t moving the way I had thought it should, I was able to give my personal circumstances the attention they needed without compromising my work.
I’m not saying that “everything happens for a reason”, that unilateral claim is definitely beyond my expertise.
What I am saying is that sometimes, when things look disappointing, when we’re devastated or frustrated because things haven’t worked out the way we wanted, when we’re feeling hurt or angry because decisions are being made that impact us without our consent…
We just might find ourselves soon in a situation beyond our comprehension, that serves us even better than we could have planned for ourselves.
Sometimes external things happen, the stars align in just the right way to create a new opportunity that’s even better.
Sometimes we make things happen, turn lemons into lemonade, dream a new dream.
So if you’re facing something that isn’t going the way you want, where do you want to go from here?
What if something not working out…works out?
August 13, 2026
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
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