Erika Jones, CFO, CCTAProfit First Professionals · Certified Fractional CFO and Profit First Professional

The Hidden Cost of Inaction

3 Oct 2026 · 0 min

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In this reflective monologue, the speaker explores the often‑overlooked form of failure that stems from actions not taken. By highlighting missed phone calls, untried opportunities, and the discipline required to avoid distractions, the talk argues that both inaction and selective omission can shape success. The speaker emphasizes the need for a balanced approach—recognizing that some achievements arise from deliberately not pursuing certain paths, while also acknowledging the hidden costs when we fail to act on potential opportunities.

And that points to another failure. Another form of failure is things we didn't do. So, and we don't think about it. Like, I didn't pick up the phone and call that person. I didn't try out that one thing. We don't consider it failure because we didn't consider it. In the same breath, sometimes the greatest things, the greatest accomplishment you have in your life is because you had the discipline of not doing something. Right. Yeah. Because you didn't go down a fork down the road. You followed this path. You didn't miss something. You missed a distraction and you went forward. So there is this balance.