As I approach my sixties I realise that many cliches apply to this prompt. There are three I would highlight particularly. The first of these is ‘you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs’. I’ve failed more than my fair share of academic exams and experienced career rejections but it’s impossible for anyone to further their aims without at least some negative consequences along the way.
The second one (that I believe is often attributed to Winston Churchill) is ‘when you’re going through hell keep on going’. So when the unavoidable problems such as those above do occur, don’t give up.
Finally in my experience it always applies, although sometimes not immediately or in the ways you expected, that ‘when one door closes another one opens’. Resit those failed exams or double down on the career goals. In reality it’s probably something as simple as one off day in an exam room or an office personality difference that is stalling progress. Keep going.
Big Dave 
Leave a comment