W.I.N. Wednesday: Clarifying Failure
There is a lot of talk in the areas of business, self development and leadership about the importance of failure. During my Dare to Be Great workshop and Heroes Path seminar we talk about the fear of failure and the importance of reframing failure and coming up with a new definition for failure. We discuss the value of failure if we see it as an opportunity to learn, to grow and to find a better way of doing something.
The leadership and entrepreneurial gurus talk about the importance of failure and encourage people to fail faster, and fail more often. In fact there are books that encourage us to "Fail Fast, Fail Often."
What I have noticed over the years however, is a misunderstanding around the concept of "Fail to Succeed". People think that the experts are saying, "Just go out and fail a lot and somehow you will be successful." While the message is far deeper than that, we often only hear the part about failing often.
I recently listened to a podcast interview with Lt. Col. Garth Massey, a Marine Corps officer and leadership trainer on leadership. Massey clarified this issue during the podcast by saying that it is not about failure; it is about striving. Striving to be a better leader, trainer, spouse or parent. Striving to grow your business. Striving to grow in any aspect of your live with the understanding that when you are continually striving you will sometimes fail. When you do fail it is important to step back and ask yourself, "What did I learn from that experience?" and, "How you I use that lesson to grow and continue to strive for higher and better?"
I like that reframe and believe that encouraging and challenging ourself and others to strive for excellence and dare to be great is a more positive message than fail fast and fail often. "What am I striving for today?" is a better question to ask yourself than "How am I going to fail today?"
What's Important Now? Continue to strive to be better tomorrow than you are today. When you do fail; reflect, learn, grow and strive on.
Take care.
Brian Willis
www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com
Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?
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