I ran across this quote the other day and found it so spot on that I had to write it down:
“When you really want something and you’re doing everything you can to make it happen and it’s not coming to fruition, you have to let go of the result and do the work anyway.” -Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola
Now, go work on whatever it is that you’re working towards until you reach that goal.
Many of the things I’ve done have paid off later in unexpected ways.
I worked hard training to be a lawyer, and continued to work hard once I graduated, because I wanted to be a successful lawyer; now, all those hours studying nuances of meaning, writing even when I was stressed and disinterested, and editing for the smallest niggle have given me a solid base for publishing fiction.
Very good point. I think the time I spent in the corporate trenches has definitely helped with my writing as well.