Following on from my previous newsletter (see below) here is the next instalment of 15 things I've learnt about human beings and success in 8,000 hours. Last newsletter was Learning  No.13 Write Down Your Goals and Dreams and Review Them Regularly. 

 

This week it's  No. 14

 

Your response to failure is more important than the failure itself

 

What would life be like without challenges, troubles, mistakes and failures?

 

Everything in life has the potential to fail. Relationships, marriages, businesses, careers, projects, finances etc. In the end though, you either become bitter or better.

 

Our mistakes and failures are an important part of our make-up. All of us possess greater potential than we realise but we come into this world with no skills or knowledge. We learn most things by trial and error. This is the way a baby learns to crawl and walk how a child learns to ride a bike or fly a kite. We try, we fail, and we adjust and try again and so on until we reach, or at least come close to the desired objective. No one would consider a baby's unsuccessful attempt to stand or walk a failure. Yet we are quick to judge our own mistakes and at times others.

The problem is not so much making a mistake but it is a problem is continually make the same mistake. As it has often been said 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results'.

 

Your own success depends on how you view your mistakes and failures

 

The way you respond to what life brings your way is far more important than the event itself. If you allow yourself to be demoralised or defeated then you can't move forward. If you aren't moving forward then you are either stuck or going backwards. When we embrace and learn from our mistakes and failures we are able to move forward. Embracing our mistakes and failures allows us to try again, until we achieve the result we want.

 

Embarrassment and fear of failure

 

Sadly, society has conditioned us to be embarrassed by our failures and not to admit them, even to ourselves sometimes. Our fear of failure is one of our greatest de-motivators and stops many from achieving our greatest potential. How often do we hear: "I couldn't do that" or "I could have done that a few years ago but not now" or "I tried that before". In reality fear of failure stops the attempt. There are few things we can learn without risking a mistake or a failure.

 

Trial and error is a legitimate learning strategy

 

Imagine if Bill Gates (and those who preceded him) had not learned from the thousands of mistakes and failures in developing computer software. They and the world would not have the benefits of new technology. If Orville and Wilbur Wright and Henry Ford had not persisted despite their mistakes and failures the aircraft and motor vehicle would have been a long time coming. It took a willingness to learn, to face the demands of the moment and empowered by persistence.

 

FAILURE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE A FAILURE

 

Failure doesn't mean you're a failure,
it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.

 

Failure doesn't mean you haven't accomplished something,
it does mean you have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean you've been a fool,
it does mean you have a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you've been disgraced,
it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you don't have it,
it does mean you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you're inferior,
it does mean you're not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your time,
it does mean you have a reason to start fresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up,
it does mean you should try harder.

Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it,
it does mean it will take a little longer.

 

Any questions? Just email me anthony@anthonvennbrown.com or discuss on my facebook wall.

 

Anthony Venn-Brown 

Coach - Author - Speaker

+61 (0)416 015 231