When Your Year Didn’t Go as Planned: How to Start Again with Confidence

Have you ever watched someone fall flat on their face and then somehow, miraculously, come back to win? In 2008, runner Heather Dorniden took a brutal fall in the middle of the 600-meter Big Ten Indoor Track Championship. You can hear the crowd gasp as she hits the ground. But moments later, she’s back on her feet, sprinting harder than ever, and crosses the finish line first.

It’s one of those videos that gives you chills every time you watch it. You can watch it here.

But the real lesson isn’t just about getting back up—it’s about how you rise, reset, and run with vision for what’s ahead.

The Fall We Don’t See Coming

Sometimes life throws us a curveball we never saw coming. For me, the last two years have been that kind of season. I walked through the hardest chapter of my life—a horrific story of elder abuse involving my mom that seeped into every part of my world. It derailed my plans, my focus, and my energy in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

It would be easy to look at the last two years and label them a failure in my business. I’m not where I thought I’d be by now.

But failure isn’t final and this isn’t the finish line.

I’m choosing to see this as a new beginning. I’m celebrating the progress I did make, reflecting on what worked, identifying what I loved, and letting go of what feels heavy. I’m rebuilding with clarity and purpose, just like Mom would have wanted me to.

And friend, maybe you need to take a little time to do the same.

When Business Doesn’t Go as Planned

Maybe 2025 hasn’t looked the way you hoped it would. Maybe your business goals fell short, your team slowed down, or you simply lost your inspiration.

It’s okay.

Falling doesn’t disqualify you—it shapes you.

The truth is, sometimes the journey doesn’t look like we imagined. But it’s in those seasons of struggle that we grow the most. Like Heather Dorniden, the race wasn’t over when she fell—it was just beginning again.

So let’s pause and ask:

• What did you learn this year?
• What’s working that you want to keep doing?
• What feels heavy and needs to be left behind?

Because what you do next—the way you rise—is what defines you.

Reset Your Vision, Not Just Your Goals

Getting back up isn’t just about grit—it’s about growth. It’s about taking an honest look at where you are and where you want to go, then resetting your focus with intention.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of business do I want to build this next year?
• What do I want to feel when I sit down to work each day?
• What do I want my life to look like because of this business?

You don’t have to keep running the same race the same way. You get to choose a new pace, a new plan, and a new vision for what comes next.

How to Put This Into Action

Here are a few ways to start your own rise–reset–run moment:

1. Reflect before you restart.
   Take time to journal what this year taught you. The wins and the lessons matter equally.
2. Celebrate the progress.
   Every small step forward counts. Don’t minimize what you’ve accomplished just because it didn’t look like someone else’s success.
3. Let go of what’s heavy.
   If something in your business feels forced, draining, or misaligned—it’s okay to release it. Make space for what excites you.
4. Rebuild with clarity.
   Decide what matters most for the next season—your time, energy, or focus—and set your goals around that.
5. Create a plan that feels doable.
   You don’t need a massive overhaul—just a thoughtful next step. That’s where growth begins.

Ready to Reset Your Business with Intention?

If you’re ready to shake off the setbacks and move forward with purpose, the Reflect & Reset Planner will walk you through it step-by-step.

This printable guide helps you reflect on what worked, dream about what’s next, and plan out exactly how to get there in your direct sales business. You’ll:

• Gain clarity on what really matters to you.
• Set goals you’ll actually stick to.
• Schedule quarterly check-ins for accountability.
• Identify what habits are holding you back.
• Create a plan to make this your best year yet.

Grab your Reflect & Reset Planner here and start fresh today.

You might have fallen, but you’re still in the race. Take a deep breath, brush yourself off, and rise, reset, and run—because your next lap might just be your victory one. And I’m cheering for you!