Don’t Give Up, Shift Directions

"He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." — John 21:6

Much like many Indians, I started my career as an employee steadily climbing the corporate ladder. Then my mentor presented an opportunity—a leap into the unknown. It was a short-term contract with a premier e-governance project in Delhi. At the time, I was settled in Bangalore, and Delhi was a completely unfamiliar city. We didn’t speak Hindi, and there were no guarantees beyond a six-month contract.

Yet after prayer and reflection, my wife and I sensed this was the "right side" where we needed to throw our net. That six-month contract stretched into six years. To top it all, I was honored with a National Web Ratna Award by the IT Minister of India—all because we obeyed the nudge to cast our net differently.

You might be a founder seeking product-market fit, a coach building an audience, or an employee looking for a workplace where your family life can also thrive. Often we keep pouring effort into the same methods or areas, even when they no longer bear fruit. This can easily lead us into a doom loop of frustration and exhaustion.

Maybe it’s time to pause—and throw your net on the other side. That "other side" might be a new market, a different customer segment, or even a shift in your career domain. Pray about it. Don’t be afraid to experiment. When you listen to God's leading, it may amaze you just as it amazed the disciples.

Sometimes breakthrough is just a prayer and a bold shift away.

# Action Items:

• Journal where you feel stuck despite sincere effort. What emotions—frustration, fear, pride—are tied to staying where you are?
• Ask God not just for direction, but also for courage to obey, especially if the “other side” feels risky or unfamiliar.
• Write down 2–3 possible shifts you could make. Choose one small experiment to try in the next 30 days as your first "net on the other side."