Pretty much every top-level athlete, self-made millionaire or motivational speaker has spoken at some time or other about the importance of failing. We hear time and time again how failures are necessary stepping stones on the road to success.
But still, it feels like failure is still a dirty word that brings about shame and judgment.
The thing is, all the gurus are right.
Failing just means that you tried, and there’s no success without trying.
It’s time to reframe your mindset and start believing in the importance of trying, time and time again. Even if you fail.
If you just focus on the results or what you didn’t achieve, you’ll lose sight of all of these great lessons that failure brings us.
- You’ve learnt what doesn’t work. Like Edison said, “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” There’s a lot to be said for trial and error, so as long as you take note of the lessons you’ve received in this round and learnt from them, maybe your next try will be the one that does it.
- You’ve learnt new skills by trying. And some of those skills might be precisely what you need to take you to your next great success, so don’t underestimate them.
- You were brave enough to take a risk. Bravery is a muscle, and like any muscle, we need to exercise it if we want it to grow. So fail, and fail often, but then try again. The more often you face adversity, the more times you stumble and pick yourself up, the easier it becomes.
Recently, some companies have been shifting towards rewarding employees for their ideas and proposals instead of rewarding only those that pan out and punishing those that don’t. This shift in thinking creates an environment where employees are not afraid to try, nourishing their creative thinking and allowing them to challenge paradigms.
Encouraging employees not to be afraid of facing new challenges without giving up also fosters persistence and perseverance. And all this creates fertile ground for the potential next big thing to flourish.
If you want to be successful at anything in life, the chances are that you’ll fail at some point. But the question is, what are you going to do about it?
Contact us at Leader House for support from a Business Coach on the Gold Coast to help you chart your path from failure to success.
