I just read an outstanding article written by Chris Widener about success and failure and how to look at these two things differently. I would like to share his thoughts on the subject with you as we say goodbye to 2010 and rush head first into 2011.
Chris points out that most people think that failure is bad and success is good. As he says, failure isn't fun and success is. But both can be beneficial to our growth.
Both failure and success are good… if you know what their specific purpose is.
SUCCESS
Of course we know that success is good, but why? Success is good because it confirms things for us.
-Success confirms our plans.
-Success confirms our decisions.
-Success confirms our resources.
-Success confirms our strategies.
-Success confirms our hunches.
-Success confirms our teamwork.
-Success confirms our risks.
-Success confirms a lot of things!
So when you are successful, ask yourself the following question: What does this success confirm in my mind?
FAILURE
Now, what about failure? What is the role of failure and how in the world can it be GOOD?
-Failure's role is to teach us. We learn from failure.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our plans.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our decisions.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our resources.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our strategies.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our hunches.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our teamwork.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change our risks.
-Failure teaches us that we need to change a lot of things!
But at least now we know one more thing that won't work! With every failure, we learn one more way we can abandon and focus in on what may be the correct way in the future! When we look at it that way, we set ourselves up for a powerfully successful future!
So when you fail, ask yourself this question: What does this failure teach me? Remember, Success and Failure are both good. They can both be your friend… If you know what role they are to play in your life.
One of my favorite quotes is, “The only real failure in life is the failure to try.”
Terry
Bolaji | Who IsBolaji.com
on December 29, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Hi Sharon,
I love this post. I agree about the unappreciated value of FAILURE.
Ironically, I undertook a project to write an eBook titled “WE WANT YOU TO FAIL”, in 2009.
It was a collaborative effort.
We never got the book out of the door. LOL!
(Yes, failure does hurt… OUCH!)
I will get that book out, one way or another. But I learned a lot about why it failed.
– Collaborative projects can be challenging for various reasons
– Leadership by democracy usually doesn’t work. The buck needs to stop with one person
– Every great undertaking needs a strong enough WHY to get you through the tough times
and so on.
I’ve come to appreciate failure a lot more, as a parent. I want my two sons (ages 3 and 6 months) to fail. FAIL EARLY, AND FAIL OFTEN, as they say in the open source software world. ha ha!
Imagine: If my 6 month old doesn’t fall flat several times, he won’t learn to crawl.
If he doesn’t learn to crawl, he’ll never learn to walk.
If he never stumbles when he walks, he won’t be much of a runner.
And if he never falls and scrapes his knee while running, he’ll never know how fast he can actually go.
Here’s to failure in 2011.
Only those who try, fall.
But only those quit, fail.
Anonymous
on December 29, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Hi Bolaji – Thanks for visiting my blog. I agree with you completely! Failure hurts! But, it seems to be a necessary part of success. Keep plugging away at that book. I would like to read it.
~ About Sharon
Hello from Louisville, KY, and thanks for stopping by my blog!
I love this business, and I am passionate about helping other people become successful real estate investors.
Come along with me on my journey as I create a business and a lifestyle that I love.
All things cornidesed, this is a first class post
Great quote Terry. I guess we all need to be reminded of that form time to time.
I enjoyed your article.
One of my favorite quotes is, “The only real failure in life is the failure to try.”
Terry
Hi Sharon,
I love this post. I agree about the unappreciated value of FAILURE.
Ironically, I undertook a project to write an eBook titled “WE WANT YOU TO FAIL”, in 2009.
It was a collaborative effort.
We never got the book out of the door. LOL!
(Yes, failure does hurt… OUCH!)
I will get that book out, one way or another. But I learned a lot about why it failed.
– Collaborative projects can be challenging for various reasons
– Leadership by democracy usually doesn’t work. The buck needs to stop with one person
– Every great undertaking needs a strong enough WHY to get you through the tough times
and so on.
I’ve come to appreciate failure a lot more, as a parent. I want my two sons (ages 3 and 6 months) to fail. FAIL EARLY, AND FAIL OFTEN, as they say in the open source software world. ha ha!
Imagine: If my 6 month old doesn’t fall flat several times, he won’t learn to crawl.
If he doesn’t learn to crawl, he’ll never learn to walk.
If he never stumbles when he walks, he won’t be much of a runner.
And if he never falls and scrapes his knee while running, he’ll never know how fast he can actually go.
Here’s to failure in 2011.
Only those who try, fall.
But only those quit, fail.
Hi Bolaji – Thanks for visiting my blog. I agree with you completely! Failure hurts! But, it seems to be a necessary part of success. Keep plugging away at that book. I would like to read it.