Failure is often seen as a negative and discouraging experience, but in reality, it is an essential part of personal growth and success.
As Albert Einstein once said, “Failure is success in progress.” It is through encountering our fears and failures that we are prompted to make important changes in our lives and businesses.
Let’s explore why failure should be embraced and how it can benefit us in various ways.
Redefining Failure: Embracing the Learning Opportunity
The concept of failure is often associated with negative connotations such as being a letdown or unworthy. However, it is important to redefine failure and view it as a learning opportunity rather than a reflection of our worth.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines failure as “a lack of success,” but this definition fails to acknowledge that success is subjective and varies from person to person. Each individual has their own picture of what success should be, and failure should be seen as a stepping stone towards achieving that personal vision.
Benefits of Failure: A Reality Check and Priceless Lessons
Failure provides a reality check on where we are at in our journey towards success. It forces us to reflect on our actions and decisions, helping us identify areas that need improvement.
For example, when I almost failed Grade 9 after winning the math award in Grade 8, I realized that I wasn’t in the right mindset and was having adjustment issues to high school that affected my ability to study. This failure served as a wake-up call and made me reevaluate my priorities, focus and become more disciplined.
Failure is a valuable teacher that imparts priceless lessons.
Just like a failed investment taught me about the importance of proper planning, business partnerships, and attention to detail, every failure presents an opportunity to learn and grow. These lessons often cannot be found in books or taught by gurus, but rather through the firsthand experience of making mistakes and overcoming obstacles.
Failure as a Stepping Stone: Second Chances and Building Character
One of the great things about life is that it is not a “one-shot only” world. Failure does not mean the end of opportunities; it means there is a chance to try again and do better.
Thomas Edison famously failed 1,000 times before inventing the light bulb. Similarly, when I made a costly mistake in the property game by being too lenient with rent collection, I learned the importance of not making the same mistakes again. Failure teaches us to learn from our past actions and seize the second chances that life presents.
Failure builds strength of character and resilience. It is easy to appear strong and successful when everything is going well, but true character is revealed when facing adversity. Going through failure tests our determination, courage, and mindset. It is through these challenges that we discover our true potential and develop the mental fortitude needed to overcome future obstacles. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Realignment of Goals: Reassessing and Refocusing
Goals are not set in stone. They evolve as time passes, circumstances change, and lessons are learned. Failure provides an opportunity to reassess our goals and ensure that they are still aligned with our desires and aspirations.
It prompts us to ask ourselves important questions: Is this what I truly want? Am I willing to put in the necessary effort? What mistakes can I learn from? Failure serves as a natural milestone to reflect on our long-term goals and make any necessary adjustments. It is a catalyst for growth and a chance to realign ourselves with our true passions and ambitions.
Famous Examples of Failure Leading to Success
Sylvester Stallone, the actor and filmmaker faced numerous rejections and failures before achieving success with the movie “Rocky.” Stallone’s childhood was filled with taunting and foster homes, and he even had to sell his dog for money. However, he never gave up on his dreams and persisted despite countless setbacks. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the belief that failure is merely a stepping stone towards success.
Apple, one of the most successful tech companies in the world, faced near failure in the 1990s. Steve Jobs, the founder, was ousted from the company he started due to a series of failures. However, Jobs never lost faith in his ideas and eventually returned to Apple, leading it to unprecedented success with products like the iMac and iPod. His failures shaped him into a visionary leader who revolutionized the tech industry.
The popular household product, WD-40, went through 39 failed attempts before the perfect formula was created. The name itself, WD-40, stands for “Water Displacement, 40th attempt.” If the creators had given up after the 39th attempt, this effective degreaser and rust protection solvent would never have come to fruition. WD-40’s journey from failure to success demonstrates the importance of persistence and the potential hidden behind each unsuccessful attempt.
Lose, a Lot!
I learned an important lesson from a tennis professional named Vic, who played at a club I belonged to when I was about thirteen years old. Vic was the best tennis player I had ever seen––he easily beat every pro at every club he played. Even in his early forties, I always admired Vic’s Buddhist mentality: peaceful, calm, and completely in control of his emotions. One day, as we were sitting on a bench at the tennis club, Vic said something to me that to this day has a profound effect on my life outlook.
He asked me, “You want to be a great tennis player, don’t you?” I replied with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
He then responded cryptically, “I’m going to tell you the secret,” and looked around to make sure no one else was listening. Would he tell me the key to fame and untold riches? Would he reveal his deepest, darkest secrets to me, a teenager who admired him and wanted the quick and easy secrets to success? Was he humoring me with his wit?
He said, “Lose, a lot!”
“What is he talking about!? It makes no sense!” I thought, “Losing takes the glory out of competition! Losers get no respect!”
He then explained that I would never improve unless I played better players and took away a lesson from each loss. If I were willing to take that risk, I would improve faster than any of my competition.
He wanted me to be humble, and never challenge better players, because that would put them in a defensive position. Instead, he suggested I ask the players if they would be willing to hit balls with me for ten minutes after competing, because I would like to learn from them. I would complement them with the skills and techniques I wished to emulate. I learned that this type of graceful losing successfully conveys one’s ability to learn from a loss.
Vic said they would pour the knowledge into me in a few hours that would take years for me to learn on my own. Then, if I played a few games and lost, I would study the techniques that helped them win the match. That’s what I first understood about optimism: I would need to stay optimistic that their strengths would soon be mine through hard work and persistence. Had I used confidence as my guide, I would only travel as far as my pride and ego would allow me to go.
Embracing Failure for Growth and Success
Failure is not the end, but rather a stepping stone towards personal growth and success. It provides a reality check, teaches invaluable lessons, offers second chances, builds character, and realigns us with our goals.
By viewing failure as an opportunity for growth and embracing the lessons it presents, we can navigate the challenges of life with resilience and determination.
Remember, failure is often the catalyst for greatness. So, don’t be afraid to fail, for it is through failure that we truly learn and achieve our greatest successes.
