Failure is good

Repeat after me, “Failure is good. “ What was that? You disagree? Really? Then read on…

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

Failure has gotten a bad rap. We have been taught, “Failure is not an option.” Unfortunately, failure is not only an option, it is guaranteed! Yet, fear of failure is the number one reason most people never succeed in reaching their goals, whether financially, regarding their health and wellness, or in their relationships. The truth is, however, that failure is not the boogey man we have been lead to believe it is.

The media has beaten it into our heads that failure is the anathema of civilization. Parents are so terrified of their child failing that now NO child is allowed to lose in a sporting or academic event and all the kids get a participation medal just for showing up. Seriously? Is that how life works? You go out into the workplace and you are given a participation medal just for showing up at your job? Good luck to you if that’s how you think life works. We are doing our children a great disservice by teaching them that failure is to be avoided and that life will reward them just for showing up. It won’t. Life will chew them up and spit them out unless they are prepared for, and understand what failure truly is. That goes for you and me too.

Failure is like manure. It really stinks and no one wants to be around it, but it’s a vital part of the growing process. Failure is the Miracle Grow for budding entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, and the average you and me’s of the world. Why do I say this? Because sometimes you must lose the battle in order to win the war.

There is no greater teacher than failure. You learn far more from your failures than from your successes. Don’t believe me? In the history of the NFL, how many football teams with perfect records have gone on to win the Super Bowl? ONE. Why do you think that is? Did you watch the Golden State Warriors phenomenal basketball season this year, where they went a record 73-9 in the regular season? Did you then watch them lose in the championship finals to the Cavaliers? Hmmm…interesting. No?

Failure makes you grow and improve. Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work." Sometimes that’s what it takes. When you win you drink from The Cup, when you lose you go back to the drawing board, train even harder and come back stronger and better than ever.

FEAR OF FAILURE PARALYSIS

Most people are so petrified of failure that they are paralyzed to act. Unfortunately, there is no sure fire way to prevent success in any endeavor than by failing to take action. Surely millions of businesses never get off the ground because the fledgling entrepreneur was paralyzed by fear of failure and failed to act at all. Sad, really.

Do you think rich, successful people are just blessed with good fortune and have never experienced failure? Here is the reality: every successful person on the planet has probably failed far MORE than the average person. Most successful people failed repeatedly for years before their big success eventually came.

Henry Ford, Oprah, Michael Jordan, Richard Branson, J.K. Rowling, the Uber guys, etc., all had tremendous failures in their careers. Hell, Colonel Sanders failed in business over and over all his life and didn’t even start KFC until after retirement when he was 65 years old! The secret is, after their failures, the successful people didn’t give up. They accessed, learned, and got right back at it.

USE FEAR AS YOUR ALLY

Failure is not a four letter word. Fear is. Let’s not fear failure, but rather embrace it and see it for what it really is – a sign that you are taking action, learning and growing, and on the path toward your eventual success. If you refuse to give up, failure is your ally. But, if you never take that first step and act…you are doomed to lose both the battle and the war.

Now, let’s try it again. Repeat after me, “Failure is good.” Doesn’t that feel empowering? Now go out there and fail! It may just be the start of something big.