Honestly, it depends on the thing.
If it involves or deals with other people, the first. But if it only involves me and a ton of things, it's the latter.
The most highly trained people on the planet- chosen for their determination and discipline- sometimes fail. Sometimes with their very survival as their top priority and a willingness to do anything and everything to survive- they fail. You can want it and try to get it, but what will be will be. You can put up the best effort for how bad you want it, and wether getting it is worth the risk and sacrifice and effort for the return you’ll get- analyze the situation and commit to what seems acceptable to you- but in the end, it happens or it doesn’t. Do what you can to help it happen. Do what you can do that if it doesn’t happen you aren’t totally screwed if you can. The rest isn’t up to you- and when dealing with other people, it’s up to them too what happens. You can’t “make” anything happen. You can try- it ultimately does or it doesn’t.
If it involves or deals with other people, the first. But if it only involves me and a ton of things, it's the latter.