When Nothing Seems to Be Working—How to Keep Going Anyway -

When Nothing Seems to Be Working—How to Keep Going Anyway, we all arrive at this point at some time. mine was today. when was yours?

The Darkness Before Dawn

I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the screen that displayed my business analytics. The numbers weren’t just disappointing—they were devastating. Six months of pouring everything into my new venture, and I had practically nothing to show for it. My savings were dwindling, potential clients were ghosting me, and that morning, my biggest prospect had emailed to say they were “going in another direction.”

That night, I seriously considered quitting. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for entrepreneurship. Maybe I should dust off my resume and apply for jobs. After all, when nothing seems to be working, isn’t that a sign to try something else?

But here’s what I’ve learned since that dark moment: the point where everything seems futile is often just one step away from breakthrough. As I discovered through Michael Cheney’s Millionaire’s Apprentice program, those moments of apparent failure are actually critical crossroads—and how you navigate them determines everything.

Why Most People Quit at the Edge of Success

The most painful truth about success is that it often hides just beyond our breaking point. Studies show that the majority of entrepreneurs give up right before their businesses would have turned the corner. Why does this happen?

First, our brains are wired for immediate feedback. When we take actions without seeing corresponding results, our primitive instincts tell us we’re wasting energy. This made sense for our ancestors hunting for food, but it’s disastrous for building a business, where results often lag behind efforts by months or even years.

Furthermore, we underestimate the “messy middle” of any worthwhile journey. We readily embrace the exciting beginning and envision the triumphant end, but rarely prepare for the extended period of doubt and difficulty that connects them.

The Hidden Value of “Nothing Working”

Ironically, these periods when nothing seems to work are invaluable for several reasons:

1. They Force Innovation and Pivoting

When traditional approaches fail, you’re pushed to discover creative solutions that might never have emerged otherwise. Many billion-dollar companies were born from “failed” attempts at something else. Twitter emerged from a failing podcast platform. Slack came from a struggling game development company.

Therefore, the struggle itself becomes the catalyst for finding your truly unique approach.

2. They Build Unshakable Resilience

Anyone can stay motivated when results are flowing. However, the ability to persist through extended dry spells is what separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest. Each day you continue despite discouragement builds emotional strength that becomes your most valuable business asset.

In fact, this resilience—not just your skills or ideas—becomes your competitive advantage.

3. They Clear the Field of Competition

Most of your competition will quit during these challenging phases. Consequently, those who persist often find themselves in much less crowded markets by the time momentum builds.

As Michael Cheney teaches in the Millionaire’s Apprentice program, sometimes, success is simply a matter of being the last person standing.

Five Strategies to Keep Going When Nothing Works

1. Shrink Your Time Horizons

When long-term progress seems non-existent, focus on extremely short-term wins. Rather than obsessing over monthly results, celebrate daily micro-achievements. Did you have a good conversation? Complete an important task? Learn something new?

Additionally, break down your workday into 25-minute focused sessions. The small dopamine hits from completing these sessions will sustain your motivation when bigger rewards are scarce.

2. Change Your Measurement Standards

Perhaps you’re measuring the wrong things. Instead of only tracking revenue or client numbers, track leading indicators like conversations initiated, proposals sent, or content published.

Moreover, measure your input metrics (hours worked, tasks completed) rather than just output metrics (results achieved). When results aren’t within your control, focus on what is.

3. Create a “Not Yet” Mindset

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck discovered that adding “yet” to statements about failure radically shifts perspective. “I haven’t succeeded” becomes “I haven’t succeeded yet.”

Similarly, reframe setbacks as data points rather than definitive judgments. Each “failure” provides valuable information about what doesn’t work, bringing you one step closer to what does.

4. Draw Strength From Your Community

Isolation magnifies discouragement. Connect with peers, mentors, or groups facing similar challenges. The perspective and encouragement of others can reignite your belief when you can’t generate it internally.

That’s one of the most valuable aspects of programs like Michael Cheney’s Millionaire’s Apprentice—the community that holds you accountable and reminds you that your struggles are normal, not signs of inadequacy.

5. Reconnect With Your Original Why

Finally, revisit the deep reasons you started this journey. Beyond money or status, what change are you trying to create? Who are you trying to help? What example are you trying to set?

When external results disappoint, internal purpose sustains.

The Decision That Changes Everything

Remember this: everyone who has achieved anything significant has stood exactly where you stand now, wondering if they’re wasting their time. The only difference between those who eventually succeed and those who don’t is one simple decision: to keep going anyway.

If you’re in that dark place where nothing seems to be working, I urge you to check out Michael Cheney’s Millionaire’s Apprentice program. It showed me how to transform periods of apparent stagnation into the foundation for explosive growth.

Your breakthrough may be closer than you think. Don’t rob yourself of finding out how close.