LEARN FROM FAILURE

 

One of the last things any of us wants to be considered is a failure, right? Just the word failure creates a negative undercurrent of emotion within us. Being labeled as a “failure” is one of the harshest critiques of one’s personal worth…according to modern society.

Everybody knows Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Steven Spielberg, Albert Einstein, and Henry Ford. Nobody would argue that these are some of the best, brightest minds to have ever existed and that they have all made tremendous contributions to society. Nobody would ever attach the word failure to anyone of them. But that is exactly what they were at one time.

TEN LESSONS WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM FAILURE:

1. FAILING BUILDS CHARACTER

There is a lesson to be learned from everything, including failing. Perhaps the greatest benefit earned from failure is strength. Think about it: if life were perfect and every endeavour ended in seamless success, what sort of person would you be? The truth is this – failure teaches us more about ourselves and builds character better than success ever could.

2. FAILURE CREATES OPPORTUNITY

Think about this: how many times in your life have you failed at something only to discover another opportunity? Maybe it was a failed relationship that led you to someone great. Maybe it was a job that did not suit you and brought you a better one. Regardless of what your circumstance was, the sweetness afterward was much better, as a result, was not it?

3. FAILURE IS A GREAT TEACHER

Failure has a way of showing what your strengths and weaknesses are while motivating you to correct them. In any area of life – academics, work, play, relationships, etc. – failure is often the driving force behind success. For example, Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player in history, failed to make his high school basketball team. When asked about his early failures, Jordan said: “I have failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeeded.”

4. FAILURE INSTILLS COURAGE

As should be clear by now, most people are scared of failure. Many of us are unwilling to take an uncertain path; we would just prefer to stay in the same boat and not rock it too much. After all, we have responsibilities and people that depend on us. In short, failure requires courage. Whether the failure experienced was anticipated or not, you will need to toughen up a bit to get through. 

5. FAILURE TEACHES PERSEVERANCE

When experiencing failure, it is very easy to just roll over and give up. “What is the use?” you say to yourself. It takes guts and determination to keep driving forward. Take J.K Rowling, author of the enormously successful Harry Potter series. Rowling said that she received “loads” of rejection letters over a five-year span before finding a publisher for one of the most successful books and movie series ever.

6. FAILURE SPAWNS CREATIVITY

If necessity is the mother of invention, failure is the father. Nothing spurs creativity like a failure. Artists and creators of all stripes know that if something does not work out, they must tap into their large reservoir of creative talent to create something truly unique.

7. FAILING REQUIRES MOTIVATION

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is your ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” The most successful people are simply the ones who did not give up. Finding the motivation to believe in yourself and press on is paramount.

8. FAILURE IS ACCEPTABLE

While a simple concept, accepting failure can be difficult to truly embrace. In the midst of experiencing failure, it is never a good feeling. In fact, this feeling can be downright gut-wrenching. But just remember that failure is acceptable … lack of effort is not. Here is Michael Jordan again: “I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I cannot accept not trying.”

9. FAILING ENCOURAGES EXPLORATION

Steve Jobs knew that the corporate world was not for him. In fact, many things were not. He disliked college, societal norms, and the stiffness of business people. Before founding Apple with Steve Wozniak, Jobs could have been labeled as a failure … he just did not care. Jobs said: “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” So, explore and do not let anything, especially fear of failing, stop you.

10. FAILURE TEACHES RESILIENCE

Along with making us better people, failing both teaches and strengthens resilience. Through the discomfort and uncertainty of an epic fail, one will be better able to take on any of life’s challenges as they come. Resilience is something required of all successful people, and there is no better teacher of resilience than failure.

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