Why Failure is Indispensable in Order to Succeed
While viscerally unpleasant, failure is a necessity in nurturing growth and creating lasting success. The psychologists term this productive failure; it leads to growth and improvement. As the famous adage goes, “Failure is not the opposite of success.” Rather, it is part of the journey toward success.”
Great innovators, leaders, and athletes sometimes encounter numerous failures in their way to the top. Michael Jordan once remarked, “I’ve missed over 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twice, I was trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
The Advantage of Embracing Failure
- Failure Promotes Resilience:
Dealing with failure also reinforces one’s capacity to overcome future adversities. Developing resilience allows a person to spring back from disappointments and remain positive during hard times.
2. Failure Stimulates Innovative Thinking:
Failures compel a person to think innovatively and alter the manner of approach. Many a business wound up being an innovation as a result of a previously failed attempt.
3. Failure Gives Beneficial Feedback:
Each and every failure teaches a lesson. Nobody really is keen to repeat the predicament, much less stick with nagging questions of incompetency. Insights gained from analyzing what went wrong will afford you with better ideas in improving future strategies and decision-making.
4. Failure Cultivates Humility:
Failing allows my ego to deflate. Through this, I learn to open my arms toward my personal growth in life.
Strategies for Dealing With Failure and Turn It into Success
1. Speak of Failure as a Learning Experience
Reframe failure from the endpoint you do not wish to reach. Think of it rather as feedback. Question yourself:
- What went wrong?
- What can I learn from this?
- How can I apply what I learned to my next endeavor?
Example:
Thomas Edison faced thousands of inspirational failures before casting light on the bulb. Thomas Edison reframed his failures and said: “I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” His acceptance to learn from every failure soon brought him success.
Tip: Maintain a journal and note the most prominent lessons you have learned from your failures and setbacks.
2. Developmental Changes in a Growth Mindset
Those with a growth mindset, as described by psychologist Carol Dweck, are convinced that their abilities and intelligence can flourish and expand through persistent learning and efforts. Such this perspective enables one to consider every failure merely the means towards growth.
Ways to Cultivate a Growth Mindset:
- See challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Celebrate effort and progress, rather than just results.
- Refrain from self-critical thinking; instead, think, “I am learning from this.”
3. Emotional Management, Staying Calmed
Failure almost always triggers feelings of disappointment, irritation, and sometimes, even dread. Acknowledge these feelings, and then just let go. Mindfulness techniques like taking deep breaths or writing in journals could keep you on a plank.
Tip: Allow yourself time to absorb your feelings, but don’t give them too much attention. Set a timestamp to shift from contemplation to action.
4. Do Not Fear Failure; Take Calculated Risks
Success needs to come after the willingness to risk. To take risks, one must be aware that implicit in risks is an element of possible failure. Rather than being intimidated by fear, embrace it; it is indeed an unavoidable process with fear. Many entrepreneurs, athletes, and innovators are ready to take those modest steps and risk a calculated death-may-be opportunity to succeed.
Example:
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has said, “If you aren’t failing, you are not innovating enough.” Although Amazon launched many failed projects, it kept learning from such misadventures so that the company’s next innovative idea could emerge.
Tip: Regularly evaluate minor risks to diminish your fear of failing. By doing so, you build courage, that will eventually serve you.
5. Learn from Others’ Mistakes
You don’t have to deal with every single failure to learn from it. Study the stories of successful people who have fought through a lot of hurdles, and apply their lessons to your own path.
Example:
Walt Disney was fired from a municipal paper for being “unimaginative” and knocked down many times before he built an empire he once called a fantasy. He learnt from all his mistakes to refine his insatiable vision.
Tip: Read biographies or hear the interviews of people who have risen above adversity for inspiration and motivation.
6. Adjust but Never Abandon
While not succeeding, it’s easy to think of giving up. Don’t abandon your goal; instead, adjust your strategy. Most failures are hosts to warnings that suggest another course, rather than a last ticket out.
Example:
Henry Ford went bankrupt several times before founding the Ford Motor Company. Each failure gave him more insight to succeed in the auto industry.
Tip: After each setback, think about what needs revision-who should tweak? Are they the process, mindset, or timeline?
7. Gather People Around You
Having supportive friends, mentors, or colleagues can help handle failure. Associate with people who thirst to support you, help give constructive criticism, and remind you of your strengths.
Example:
Fired from her first TV job, Oprah Winfrey had the support and encouragement to persevere in the media. It was her persistence through much challenge that earned her the title of media mogul.
Tip: Talk about your challenges with a trusted friend or mentor so they can offer new perspectives and help you clarify next steps.
8. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Perfectionism is the kind of disease that makes failure seem unbearable. Instead of just trying to be perfect, try to focus on the process of improvement. Success is not linear but is a collection of the ups and downs. Thus, each step forward, no matter how small, counts.
Tip: After every single attempt, ask yourself, “What improvement have I made?” And every small improvement deserves a celebration.
Examples of Failures That Became Successes
Steve Jobs:
Jobs was once fired from Apple-the very establishment that he helped to build. Instead of giving up, he started new ventures, like NeXT and Pixar, which later paved the way for his successful return to Apple. Steve Jobs’ story itself becomes a fine example of failure serving as a ramp to one’s success.
Colonel Sanders:
Colonel Sanders was over 1,000 times rejected before giving the world a chance to taste KFC. With his error and staying behind, that rejection paled the way for a global success.
Sara Blakely:
Spanx’s founder had several failed experiments before she could build her billion-dollar brand. She acknowledges that the misfortunes taught her vital lessons about persistence and creative ingenuity.
Conclusion:
The Mistake is Not the End-The Beginning
Failure is a part and parcel of the journey to success. What is of utmost importance is how one reacts to that. By changing the focus of failure into a learning experience, by being resilient to failure, and by sticking to your commitment, you can turn failure into success.
Keep in mind that great achievements are often preceded by failure. Instead of fearing it, embrace it as an important part of the journey. Each time you fail, you are not starting all over; you are starting with more experience, insight, and strength than you had before.
The road to success is not about dodging failure but learning how to manage it accordingly. In other words, success doesn’t lie in avoiding fall but in the rising every time one falls.
