Solomon:

Getting passed over can quickly become personal, especially when you expected the opportunity to be yours. But the decision gives you information before it gives you a conclusion.

Career decisions are rarely based on performance alone. Readiness, trust, visibility, experience, fit, and timing can all shape who gets the opportunity. The goal is to understand which factor actually mattered before deciding what it means for your future.

David was overlooked when Samuel came to evaluate Jesse’s sons, but being left out of the room did not determine what came next. 1 Samuel 16.

Ask the decision-maker for a direct conversation: “I want to understand what separated the person selected from me and what I would need to demonstrate for the next opportunity.” Listen for specifics. Then decide whether the gap is one you can and want to close—or whether the answer tells you something important about your path there.