“He who never makes mistakes, never makes anything,” – English Proverb.
The fear of failure has claimed many a dreamer. Just when creativity and energy start taking hold, the dreaded self-doubt comes in and destroys hope like a frost to early blooms, “But what if I fail?” The imagination then switches from realizing potential greatness to a spiraling scene of impending doom.
Rather than cooperate with black and white thinking, deeming failure as the antithesis to success, we need to reframe our views. History shows that failure and success are really cousins, intimate parts of the same process. Sometimes it is because success is not possible until certain skills are in place. A baby’s efforts to walk are such an example. Only through repeated attempts to stand (a.k.a. falling down) does the baby develop enough muscle strength for balance and posture. Other times, failure shows what doesn’t work so we can narrow down the options. This is one of the basic principles to being a learner- trial and error. Thomas Edison had over ten thousand “failures” before the electric lamp came into being. Then there are failures that help us abandoned fruitless paths. It took prison before O Henry was able to connect with the dormant author that lay within.
According to author Napoleon Hill, there are several factors that can help turn those tough times into successes. I have found three to be particularly potent:
1. Intense desire- it is hard to formulate a plan or tolerate upsets if the goal is not something worthwhile to you. Know what you are working towards and why it is of value. Train your mind to focus on that dream several times each day and visualize what it will look like as a reality. If you cannot dream it, you cannot do it.
The Wright brothers were consumed with thoughts of flight. When no one could be found to manufacture their designs, they built their own!
2. Decisiveness- do not be fooled! Lack of action is a decision. Procrastination is the cunning thief that steals opportunity from you. The only real power you have is to make the most of the moment. If you wait for the “right” time, you end up “waiting” yourself into retirement. Great ideas are only great when they are turned into action.
3. Persistence- the very definition means to work in spite of opposition. Where motivation can wax and wane based on your feelings, clinging to persistence means that you will carry on even when you feel like quitting. Persistence pushes you to keep taking action, the one thing that will get results.
In spite of eight lost elections, two business failures, and a nervous breakdown, Abraham Lincoln persistence led him right into the presidency.
Don’t let failure stop you before you have a chance to start. Refuse to see failure as a character flaw and instead see it as opportunity to become stronger.