"F" Word

The dreaded "F" word - failure - is so important yet so misunderstood. The key to understanding how to succeed rests on knowing a thing or two about the importance of failure.

Failure is both the "teacher's pet" and the "black sheep" of the family of success! People are naive about the benefits of failure. Wrongly founded assumptions about failure replace potentially accurate assessments of what is necessary to achieve success.Failure has an ulterior motive - not to get you to quit, but to stop you long enough so that you may learn something, re-strategize and re-launch again more prepared for success.

Success cannot exist without failure as failure is part of the steering mechanism that drives you to success. Learn to expect failure - welcome it, as your denial of this reality can and will have huge negative effects.

Anything worthwhile is worth pursuing, even though the risk is huge, the investment formidable, and failure a possibility.

FAILURE is an essential part of the combination required to open the lock on success.

FAILURE measures your personal investment in this goal - it is a test of character, commitment and courage.

FAILURE lobs an occasional grenade at success, failure asks for your resignation letter, it goads and prods you into quitting, but success hangs in the balance.

We all live a life of close calls, belly flops, and missed opportunities. Your persistence in the face of failure and set back is a measure of your belief in yourself and your goal.

Knowing when to say when is also important. The message this time could be to say "Uncle" and move on to something else. An occasional step back to regroup and reload can, and often does, position you for several more steps forward.

There will always be tension between your enthusiasm for your goal and the fear of failing to achieve it. Quite frankly, you want it that way. The trick is learning how to surrender to fear but to thrive on its tension.

Expect to get dinged here and there as you pursue your goal, but like wine that gets better with age, you get better when you have failed a time or two and learned from the experience.

While there is nothing inherently sexy or enviable about failure, eventually people find you more attractive and interesting because of the knowledge, wisdom, and maturity you gained because of it.

When opportunity appears on the horizon, fear of failure is often riding shotgun. Too many people surrender to that fear. Stay focused, "superglue" your commitment, and persevere.

Your reward is having a wonderful stage upon which to ply your craft, to explore yourself, and to let the world enjoy the benefits of your efforts.
Failure does not preclude success. Rather than beat a retreat, go on the offensive, dare to pursue your dreams when others would yield.