Overly simplistic discussion here for the most part. Many top execs, military officers, politicians, et al., have been "passed over" yet come back and run the company or got elected to the office they originally sought. Organizations change, people come and go, policies are revised, etc. Oftentimes the worst thing people do is feel slighted because they missed out on a promotion so they leave for another company where they find out the grass isn't always greener. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't. Of course there are some situations that will never work out but there are no blanket rules when it comes to this sort of thing.