When Life Knocks You Off Track: The Norovirus story and how it effects your goals.

Last week, I got sick.

It was the kind of hugging the toilet, not leaving the bed for days, sickness that completely throws you off your routine. Physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. It also meant my ambitious goal of running every day in 2025 wasn’t achievable for those few days.

I’ll admit, it was frustrating. Here I was, only a few weeks into the year, and I already felt like I’d failed. To make things worse, I couldn’t finish last week’s newsletter on time—it just wasn’t going to happen.

But here’s the thing about goals and setbacks: they’re inevitable.

What matters isn’t whether life knocks you down (because it will). What matters is what you do next.

A Lesson in Pivoting

In moments like these, you have two choices:

1️⃣ Give up entirely.

2️⃣ Pivot and adapt.

When I realized I couldn’t run for 4 days, my first instinct was discouragement. Was this goal already over? But then I remembered something important: there are 365 days in a year. Duh.

Missing 4 days doesn’t mean the goal is dead. It just means I need to adjust.

The solution? Well pretty simple really once I gave myself the grace.

To make up for the lost days, I’ll run twice on 4 different days this year. It’s not about perfection—it’s about perseverance.

Real-Life Examples of Pivoting

This concept isn’t just something I’m learning; it’s a hallmark of success stories throughout history.

Take Thomas Edison, for example. When working on the electric light bulb, he famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Edison didn’t see failure as a reason to quit—he used it as a pivot point to refine his approach.

Or consider J.K. Rowling. She was rejected by 12 publishers before finally landing a deal for Harry Potter. Each rejection could have been a reason to quit, but she adapted, kept trying, and ultimately achieved worldwide success.

These stories share one thing in common: success rarely comes without setbacks. The key is not letting those setbacks define you.

What This Means for You

Whatever your goals are—whether personal, professional, or something in between—you will face obstacles. You’ll miss days, encounter failures, or lose momentum.

The question is: How will you respond?

Here are a few strategies to help you pivot when life throws you off track:

1️⃣ Reframe setbacks as opportunities. Instead of seeing them as failures, view them as chances to learn and adjust.

2️⃣ Focus on the big picture. Missing a few days or falling short temporarily doesn’t negate the long-term goal.

3️⃣ Create a new plan. Find creative ways to stay on track, even if it means adapting your approach (like my double-run plan).

Why This Newsletter Was Late

This same lesson is why today’s newsletter is landing in your inbox on a Monday instead of the usual Friday. I got sick, life happened, and the plan had to adjust.

But instead of skipping it entirely, I took the weekend to recalibrate and deliver something meaningful today.

Because here’s the truth: Consistency isn’t about never falling off. It’s about never staying off.

What Goal Are You Pivoting Toward?

I’d love to hear from you:

• What’s a goal you’ve had to adjust but still achieved?

• How did you pivot when life got in the way?

Share your story by replying to this email or commenting below—it might inspire someone else who’s facing their own setback.

Here’s to resilience, adaptability, and making 2025 the year we achieve greatness—even if it looks different than we originally planned.

Until next time,

Justin.