What if you don’t hit the goal?
TL;DR
Reaching a goal isn’t the finish line — it’s a turning point.
As you grow, your vision grows with you.
You know that feeling when you set a goal—and the first thing that creeps in is:
"But what if I don’t get it?"
That came up recently when I was a guest on my friend’s podcast.
We were talking about the uncertainty of outcome—and how often that fear keeps creatives from even starting.
I found myself saying something I’ve witnessed time and again over my 20+ years of coaching:
Even if you don’t get the goal you set out for, or if the project you’ve been working so hard on doesn’t do what you hoped—it’s not wasted.
It shapes you.
It strengthens your voice.
It gives you clarity, direction, and resilience.
Some proof from the coaching room:
I’ve watched one of my writer clients struggle through a screenplay she knew might never sell—but in finishing it, she discovered the voice and structure for the novel she’d been trying to write for years.
I witnessed an actor client pour herself into a solo show that never made it past a few small houses—but that experience gave her the confidence to pitch and land a regular spot on a series.
The truth is, we’re wired to measure progress by outcomes.
But in real life—and in creative careers—process is often where the real progress happens.
That’s also what happens when you reach a goal.
You celebrate, you catch your breath—and then you’re faced with a different question:
Now what?
Do you maintain it? Do you reset? Do you pivot?
Reaching a goal isn’t the finish line — it’s a turning point.
You grow. Your vision grows with you.
And every time you return to your creative journey, you’re not just pursuing another achievement — you’re shaping a lasting, personal practice.