I grew up thinking no other place matters but 1st place. That’s how I also felt about plans.  There was only plan A and no need for a plan B or C. There was only one way, one path, and one road that would make my dreams come true, and up until my last couple of years in college, plan A was working out just fine. Then life slapped me in the face, and things got real. 

There were many things that I didn’t take into consideration when it came to my plan A. I didn’t expect to take detours or experience roadblocks in starting my career. I felt like the formula to success that others gave to me was a lie. Panic overcame me because I didn’t have a backup plan for navigating those obstacles. I was determined to make method A work, but I couldn’t figure out how to get through the hurdles. Now I was at a standstill, unsure if I should turn back and give up or keep pushing forward. Have you ever been in the middle of a crossroad and not sure how to make your next move? Here are four tips to push forward when plan A doesn’t work out. 

Accept That Plan A Failed

I had to accept that plan A was not going to work. I had to decide whether to stay in NYC to pursue a Public Relations career or return home. Was I going to let the roadblocks turn me around and defeat me, or was I going to get over the hump? I decided to push through. I learned there are no clear paths to getting the things you want.  Sometimes it’s luck, sometimes it’s favor, and sometimes it’s timing. Acknowledge that the road ahead won’t be easy and save yourself the disappointment. Nothing worth having is going to be easy. Prepare your mind and spirit to be able to deal with the difficult moments in your journey. Acceptance is the first step to creating your plan B.

Find the Back Door

You aren’t always going to be able to walk through the door of opportunity. Our professors, peers, parents, and industry professionals say go to school, intern, network, and have the career you want. What happens when you’ve done all of that, and you still don’t have the very thing you desire? Once you have tried everything possible, then that’s when you have to find a back door to opportunities. I went on more than 100 job interviews. They told me I didn’t have what it takes and try again with a different profession. My persistence and resilience weren't enough for these prospective employers, but I refused to give up and decided to try another way. I knew I had the skills I needed for the job, so I started freelancing my way to a full-time opportunity. I continued to build my portfolio by offering my services to people. I was building my brand and my expertise without having a Fortune 500 company behind me. 

Understand Timing

Now that you’ve found a backdoor to your dreams, it may take some time to realize them fully.  My first breakthrough in my career came three years after I graduated from college. That’s three years less time I had in the industry than my peers, and that’s three graduating classes of eager recent grads that I had to compete with for entry-level positions. That means I had a tough road ahead trying to keep up with my peers in salary, career experience, and opportunities. Therefore, when working on your plan B, be mindful of timing. Take the pressure off yourself to reach career goals by a certain age. I’m sure we all thought we would be married at the age of 21, and we aren’t, but life kept moving, and so did we.  It’s not the end of the world if you aren’t a director, vice president, or even CEO by 30. Things will happen when it's supposed to. Keep building your experience and your skills by starting a side hustle to get you further along in creating the life you want. 

Be Open

Who wants to be knocking on 30 years old and making a low entry-level salary in NYC?  I sure didn’t, but if I stuck to plan A, I would have been on that road. I decided to increase my skills in an industry that paid more and promoted me faster to make up for those three years that I lost.  I opened myself up to another career path and found it to be rewarding. Sometimes, if you open yourself up to new experiences, you may discover a true passion. We are a generation of “backslashes,” so who says you have to be good at and get paid for only one thing.  If you don’t have the job you want, develop your passions into a side hustle to still build out your purpose. In due time, it will become your bread and butter.

So don’t get yourself down if plan A doesn’t work out. We have to turn those lemons into lemonade by stepping back, reassessing our goals and purpose, and discovering a different route to creating the life we want.