Freedom to Fail: Knowing When to Walk Away

“You have to know your strengths, and you have to go where those strengths are really valued.”

For most people, getting fired is a pretty big fail. For Kisha Daniels, assistant professor of the practice in the Program in Education, it was no exception. 

Daniels knew from an early age that she wanted to be an educator, and began her career working in public schools before earning her doctorate. Before coming to Duke, she spent more than a decade at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where she trained future teachers and principals. Previously, she served as a school principal herself, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges educators face. 

After realizing she’d grown removed from the day-to-day realities of public schools, she made the unconventional decision to leave her tenured position at NCCU and return to working directly with schools as a director of consulting, supporting teachers and school leaders in their practice.

“I was so excited about this company because my passion is creating vibrant, innovative  and creative environments for students and teachers,” Daniels said. “I thought it was the perfect fit.” 

For about a year, things went well. Daniels developed creative ideas tailored to what clients said they wanted, though those ideas were often met with hesitation. She kept experimenting, though, trying new approaches to meet their needs. 

She focused on supporting teachers and clients, and prioritized goals over sales. When she advised a client to delay purchasing company materials until they were better prepared, the sales team saw it as a problem — her guidance cost them a sale. 

Not long after, despite a conversation and suggested adjustments, Daniels was let go by the company.

“I didn’t even know what my boss meant when he told me they wanted to ‘separate from my services,’” said Daniels, who laughs about it now. “And what hurt me the most was that somebody didn't like my work. It was the sense that I had failed at something.”

Daniels took time to reflect before moving forward, writing down moments she’d felt uncertain or uneasy. Through the process, she realized the organization hadn’t been ready for her strengths or vision, despite claiming otherwise. 

She concluded that to do her best work, she needed to be in a place whose values aligned with her own: prioritizing students, staff and clients over sales. She also recognized that while she could contribute to an organization’s growth, she couldn’t force it to change. 

It’s a story she often shares with students, encouraging them to know their own worth and understand that not every organization or environment will be the right fit for them, even if it’s highly regarded or ranked. 

“That experience taught me that you have to know your strengths, and you have to go where those strengths are really valued.”

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If you are a Trinity faculty member interested in participating in Freedom to Fail, please contact Elizabeth Richardson from Trinity Communications.