Ashley Ormon, a contemporary writer known for concise, practical wisdom, captures the essence of forward momentum. Small business owners often carry guilt over time lost — the wrong hire, a slow start, a failed launch. Her words remind us that the past is fixed; the future is flexible.
Early in my journey, I wasted months stuck on a bad marketing strategy. When I realized it wasn’t working, I obsessed over the loss — the money, the hours, the pride. But regret adds no value. Ormon’s message helped me shift focus from recovery to redirection. The only cure for wasted time is smarter use of what remains.
A common pitfall is living in “catch-up mode.” We work frantic hours trying to erase old mistakes, but that only burns energy. Instead, pause and learn. I now review every setback with three questions: What did I learn? What will I do differently? What’s still worth saving? That reflection turns loss into leverage.
Another mistake is letting shame stall you. Business owners often tie identity to performance. When something fails, we freeze. But time keeps moving, and inaction multiplies regret. The solution is small, consistent action. Fix one system. Call one client. Move forward visibly.
Ormon’s advice is mercy wrapped in realism. You can’t reclaim lost time, but you can redeem what’s left. Every new decision is a vote for progress — and those votes add up quickly when you stop staring in the rear-view mirror.
