Is there anyone out there who likes to fail? I'm guessing there isn't, and yet some of the most successful people learn to fail their way to the top.
Think back to when you learned to ride a bicycle. With training wheels, it was easy and a good introduction, but you yearned to ride free. Then the training wheels came off…and things became more difficult! You were scared, but excited. You struggled to stay upright and endured the inevitable falls, bumps and bruises, and scrapes. You kept going. You looked forward to the time when you would succeed, when you would at last ride free on your own. So you kept at it and eventually mastered it. Once you were confident that you wouldn't fall, you started to add your own flair with one-handed and even no-handed riding. Wow, that felt powerful!
But now you are an adult, a businessperson. Do you approach the development of new skills with the same eagerness? Do you jump at the chance to move forward applying new skills with excitement? Do you have the will to perform unsuccessfully until you master the challenge? Do you jump at the chance to try something new or to prove yourself in the face of unforeseen obstacles? If you are like most people, the answer is probably "No."
So what’s has changed since your bike learning days? For one thing, I’ll bet that you’ve become a lot more concerned about other people’s opinions. You probably often hesitate because of the possibility people will criticize and ridicule. Sure, it can be uncomfortable to try something new, perhaps even scary, but if you take your eye off the goal and instead focus your attention on how others may be viewing you, you are doing yourself a gigantic disservice.
If you are not getting the results you want or have been discouraged by failure, ask yourself these questions:
Do I have an unrealistic timetable?
Maybe you expect to skip steps and succeed on a grand scale immediately. Success is usually achieved by climbing one-step at a time. So, be patient with yourself and resist the temptation to compare your progress with that of others.
Am I truly committed?
Do you have a burning desire to achieve your goal? It’s essential that you be willing to do whatever it takes (within legal and ethical bounds, of course) and that you banish any thought of giving up before you accomplish
Do I have too many discouraging influences?
Unsuccessful results can be frustrating. That’s why we need to surround ourselves with people who support and believe in us.
Am I preparing to succeed?
Success in any endeavor requires thorough preparation. Are you taking steps to learn everything you can about accomplishing your goal? This means reading books, taking courses, networking with highly successful people in your field. It means finding a mentor or a coach to work with you. Successful people are always sharpening their skills.
Am I truly willing to fail?
Face it: you will fail. You will encounter defeat before you succeed. Look failure squarely in the face and see it as a natural part of the success process. Do not take it personally. It is not about you as a person being bad or good. Welcome failure as an unavoidable yet vital component in the quest to achieve your goals.
Failure is not final; quitting is. But continued attempts, with commitment and diligence, can lead to success.
No, you won't close every sale, and you won’t make money on every investment. Life is a series of wins and losses, even for the most successful. If you make it your business to learn from every defeat and stay focused on the goal, failure will eventually lead you to success.
Get out there and fail!
Patti Kouri, Accelerated Performance Coaching
Helping You Through Self-Made Limitations!
Will you Take My Challenge and increase your income? Here's what one student said:
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