Failure Doesn't Exist… Where We Think it Does

I’ve hit wall after wall recently. I’ve failed more in the last 3 years than I think I ever have.

I’ve spent more on investments into new ideas and potential revenue streams/business opportunities than I ever have.

And yet I’m no where close to where I had hoped to be. Not even in the same neighborhood. In fact, it feels like I’ve gone backwards a bit.

Good.

Yep, that’s right … good.

What? Why?

Because without being where I am now, I wouldn’t know what I know now. (Follow me?)

Everything that has been different than what I had hoped for, literally holds lessons unlocked.

For the tech stack that didn’t work the way I had hoped. Lessons to be learned.

For the acquisition that stalled out and all but crashed. Lessons to be learned.

For the two startups that stalled out and did crash. Lessons to be learned.

For the meetings that got me laughed out of the office (literally). Lessons to be learned.

Every “failure” has a lesson to be learned (I’m repeating myself now). In fact, I don’t even call those failures.

I would call them teaching moments. Mistakes with lessons. Experience.

Failure isn't in the mistake itself. It's not where we think it is.

Failure is when you either don’t learn lessons from making mistakes or don’t apply the lessons learned. Or both.

Failure is repeating the same mistake without any effort to correct it.

Mistakes, while not ideal, are opportunities.

They are opportunities to learn, to grow, and to advance.

When faced with a mistake, we are given the choice; Accept failure, or accept growth.

Below are some of my favorite quotes that remind me that failure isn't where I think it is, it's not in the mistake itself, but in not rising up after each fall. And it is not fatal, as Churchill put it. I’ve added some questions that I asked myself when I read these quotes to help stir up the thoughts.

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." - Albert Einstein Do I stick with the problem until I learn (win), or do I quit when it gets tough?

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill What is keeping me from continuing on? Speak truth to the lies and watch them become silent.

"If you're not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you're determined to learn, no one can stop you." - Zig Ziglar Am I determined to learn? What is a lesson I can learn from today? From this past week? From this year?

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela What does it look like to rise (and learn) from the last fall I took? How can I apply those lessons today?

So if I could encourage you… don’t stay down. Get back up, learn, apply, share.

And listen, it’s ok to fall down sometimes. It means you’re a doer, and you don’t just talk the talk, but you walk it too.

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes." - John Wooden Just remember to learn from those mistakes. And find someone who can cheer you on and stand with you through the thick and thin.

If I can be that for you, reply to this email and fill me in on what you're up to and how I can support you.

You CAN do this, friend. Here to support you however I can!

Rooting for you!!

See you next Tuesday,