What Did I Do Wrong?
When both struggle and success can lead to the same painful question
This line from a recent Joe Guay essay stayed with me:
“What did I do wrong? Why couldn’t I work harder and make this happen for myself?”
I’ve heard versions of that from teachers, nurses, public servants, and good people who work incredibly hard yet still struggle financially.
But I’ve also heard a different version from people who already “won.”
They have the big house. The title. The bonuses. The view.
And still, somewhere beneath it all:
What did I do wrong?
One group lacks money.
Another lacks meaning.
That’s what I’d call the worst of the worst in The Whole Mind Game.
If you’re new to it, The Whole Mind Game is a framework I created for exploring tensions that are framed as either/or choices. Instead of choosing one side or compromising, in the game, we ask:
What’s the best of both?
We play it often on Authbition the Podcast, including my episode with Joe Guay.
Here, the tension is: Authenticity and Ambition.
The worst of authenticity without ambition can become an unnecessary limitation.
The worst of ambition without authenticity can become hollow success.
Both can end in the same painful question:
What did I do wrong?
But I believe there’s a better path.
The best of the best is thriving financially while doing good.
Building success without betraying yourself.
Creating prosperity that helps people rather than harms them.
If enough people pursued that path, it wouldn’t just change careers.
It would change the world.
Joe’s essay is worth your time:
Can Vast Fortunes Be Made Without Exploiting Our Fellow Humans?
Want to hear Joe and me play The Whole Mind Game on Authbition the Podcast? There, we explored a different tension between having a Real Job and being Self-Employed.
Watch or listen to the Podcast:
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music
Thank you for reading and listening.
Health, happiness, kindness, respect
for every being and all things.
— Andrew
