The Success Key

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

It’s my belief that people fail in life as much as they succeed, and possibly more.

HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT FAILING?

Generally, we don’t care for failure. It humbles us, can be embarrassing, and lead to rather unpleasant consequences. Failing forces us to start over and starting over can be exhausting, even debilitating. 

No, we don’t care for failure.

A POSITIVE SIDE?

Is there a positive side to failing? Author Kathryn Schulz wrote,

“Of all the things we are wrong about, this idea of error might well top the list. It is our meta-mistake: We are wrong about what it means to be wrong. Far from being a sign of intellectual inferiority, the capacity to err is crucial to human cognition.”

Some say that great success depends on great risk, that failing is a natural byproduct. Do you believe that’s true? 

SOME QUESTIONS

1. Is your fear of failure greater than your desire to succeed?
2. Has failing in the past led you to fear your future?
3. Is it easier to live with your head down and just avoid risk?
4. Did someone “teach” you that failing at something made you a failure?
5. Do you live thinking that if you don’t try then you can’t fail?

SOME LESSONS LEARNED

Here are some ways that failing has taught me and helped me.

1. My fear of failure originated from insecurity.
2. As my self esteem increased my fear of failure decreased.
3. Failing doesn’t mean my life is a failure.
4. I almost always have to try something more than once to succeed.
5. In fact, if my goals are reached too easily, I often appreciate them less.  
6. Learning to not give up has served me well, time and time again.
7. The thrill of victory is almost always preceded by the agony of defeat.
8. Nobody is going to live my life for me, succeed or fail, its up to me. 

MOVING UP AND ON

1. The first step is almost always the hardest; and the most scary.
2. An active faith will stiffen the backbone of your resolve.
3. Life moves forward, you need to move with it, it won’t wait for you.

AND FINALLY

I can say, without reservation, that whatever my success or accomplishments, none of it came without having reached and failed to grasp the bar, many times over.

Failure is close friend of mine. Success has been a sweet byproduct of that friendship. 

Paul said that we can do all things through him who gives us strength.

It’s true. We can. 

So stay in the game. Keep trying. Success comes to those who won’t give up. It may, or may not, look like you imagined, but it will happen. 

Shalom