--- title: "Trying to Do the Right Thing and Getting It All Wrong" description: "Discover how to shift from a goal-obsessed mindset to one of present awareness by confronting your ego, reflecting on priorities, and embracing core values." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ], "jobTitle": "Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Blue Goat Cyber", "url": "https://bluegoatcyber.com/" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#website", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" }, "founder": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Trying to Do the Right Thing and Getting It All Wrong - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Discover how to shift from a goal-obsessed mindset to one of present awareness by confronting your ego, reflecting on priorities, and embracing core values.", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/6b0f8e97-e83e-44d3-ad2e-7645d834715a/trying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong-card.png", "datePublished": "2024-08-02T21:18:52+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:39:09.757Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/trying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the core idea behind \"Trying to Do the Right Thing and Getting It All Wrong - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most of us are always trying to do the right thing. Except, we often get it all wrong. I came to this realization while I was recuperating from a health" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who is this post for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Honestly, anyone who suspects the real life is happening in the ordinary hours, not the milestones. If you want a listicle, this is not that. If you want the honest version of what I have actually lived and worked through, keep reading." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I actually apply this, not just nod along?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Pick the single line in the post that made you flinch or look away, and change one thing in your week because of it. One choice this week beats a whole framework you never touch." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [](/) [About](/about)[Speaking](/speaking)[Cybersecurity](/cybersecurity)[Programs](/programs)[Books](/books)[Media](/media) Writing Search Ctrl K[Connect](/connect) [The In-Between](/blog/category/the-in-between) # Trying to Do the Right Thing and Getting It All Wrong August 2, 2024 2 min read 534 words Most of us are always trying to do the right thing. Except, we often get it all wrong. I came to this realization while I was recuperating from a health incident. I finally had time to reflect rather than constantly pushing toward accomplishing the next thing. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/be1d6d67-decb-4a1a-beb2-b8a1cf2ba31c/trying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong-hero.webp) The takeaways 1. 01 Most of us are always trying to do the right thing. What to do next Choose one small action tied to always you can do in the next 24 hours that your future self would thank you for. 2. 02 This image is from that time: This aha moment is part of my new book, The In-Between: Life in the Micro. 3. 03 It’s a story about how I was once obsessed with the macro. 4. 04 Being in this state meant I was always chasing some big goal and not noticing all the collateral damage. What to do next Name the one place in your life this week where state is quietly running the show, and write it down before you go to bed tonight. Most of us are always trying to do the right thing. Except, we often get it all wrong. I came to this realization while I was recuperating from a health incident. I finally had time to reflect rather than constantly pushing toward accomplishing the next thing. This image is from that time: ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/6cc51b2e-322b-4373-a852-65880bf78c22/e0ec974789e1.jpg) This aha moment is part of my new book, _[The In-Between: Life in the Micro](https://www.amazon.com/Between-Life-Micro-Christian-Espinosa/dp/B0CP9WT8J7)._ It’s a story about how I was once obsessed with the macro. Being in this state meant I was always chasing some big goal and not noticing all the collateral damage. Stepping back and reflecting enabled me to find the beauty of the micro, which are the authentic moments in life. So, why was I trying to do the right thing and getting it all wrong? ## Reassessing What Matters During my recovery, I finally slowed down enough to examine my life and what mattered. Achieving personal and professional goals was a big part of my identity. I was a thinker and a doer. I set intentions and followed through, and that’s never a bad trait to have. However, pursuing these objectives meant I wasn’t tuned into those around me or my feelings. I thought I was, but my motivations weren’t always the “right” ones. During this time, I recalled some points in my life where I did get it all wrong because I was too focused on the future and not the present. One was the death of my grandfather. He mattered to me, but I was unable to express this as he lay dying. I felt self-conscious and confused. I ignored my gut instinct to do or say something more meaningful. Why? My ego was in the way. I’ve recalled this experience as I’ve grown older, and it’s a regret I live with now. However, this deep reflection led to a path of living in the in-between with intention. ## How Do We Eventually Get It Right? The best thing we can do to embrace the micro and get it right more often than not is to burst the bubble state. A bubble state forms when we focus and obsess over the macro. It keeps us from seeing the in-between. It locks us into a closed mindset and belief system. We cannot get it right without bursting the bubble state. We have to remove the barriers of overthinking and ignoring our instincts. It doesn’t happen overnight. There’s work to do to improve our awareness and empathy. Looking back, I can now understand why I got it wrong but didn’t know it. It’s not a black-and-white scenario where right and wrong are apparent. There are only shades of gray; we can move forward with getting it right when we define and hold to our core values. If you want to move in this direction, you must reflect objectively. My book offers insights and inspiration to help you do this. Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "Trying to Do the Right Thing and Getting It All Wrong - Christian Espinosa"? ### Who is this post for? ### How do I actually apply this, not just nod along? ### Work with me I help founders and cybersecurity leaders build teams that ship, not teams that stall. If that's the problem you're trying to solve, let's talk. [Start a conversation](/contact) Share this essay [X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ftrying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong&text=Trying%20to%20Do%20the%20Right%20Thing%20and%20Getting%20It%20All%20Wrong) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ftrying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ftrying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong) [Email](mailto:?subject=Trying%20to%20Do%20the%20Right%20Thing%20and%20Getting%20It%20All%20Wrong&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ftrying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong)Copy link ![Christian Espinosa, headshot](/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg) About the author [Christian Espinosa](/about) · Founder & CEO, Blue Goat Cyber Christian is the founder and CEO of Blue Goat Cyber, a medical device cybersecurity firm. He's an Air Force Academy graduate, 24x Ironman, climber of two of the Seven Summits, and the author of The Smartest Person in the Room and The In-Between: Life in the Micro. Keep reading - [ ### The Power of Questions - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/the-power-of-questions) - [ ### Tulum, Prosecco, and the Sign I Almost Missed | Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/tulum-prosecco-and-the-sign-i-almost-missed) - [ ### The Smartest Person in the Room Is Usually Wrong | Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/the-smartest-person-in-the-room-is-usually-wrong) [← Previous essay Shedding Your Defense Modes - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/shedding-your-defense-modes)[Next essay → No One Wants to Feel Alone in Times of Need - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/no-one-wants-to-feel-alone-in-times-of-need) Related, The In-Between ### Live in the In-Between Christian's philosophy on micro vs. macro, awareness, and intentional living, explored in talks, essays, and his books. [Connect with Christian](/connect) Christian Espinosa Bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Founding CEO of [Blue Goat Cyber](https://bluegoatcyber.com/). Helping technical leaders develop the soft skills that turn brilliance into impact. 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