I’ve found that I learn the most in life when I trip and fall. I know I’m not alone in this. It’s these moments in life when we don’t succeed, when we don’t win, when we ultimately fail, that teach us the most. More importantly, it’s these moments in life that show us what we are really made of.
It’s easy to succeed. It’s easy to win. It’s easy to accomplish all that we set out to do. It takes hard work to get there. It takes careful planning and calculated moves, but the end result is easy and it feels good. Success is gratifying. Gratification is what makes it all worth it. The long days, the short nights, the time away from family, they all seem worth it when that gratifying feeling surges through you. You want to bottle that feeling and sip from it every chance you get.
Failure isn't as easy. It hurts. It burns. It downright stings. It makes us remember for a long time. It’s one of those feelings you want to walk far away from. In reality, failure is a gift. Failure is special. Failure is the opportunity to pick ourselves up, dust off, and get back in the game. Failure is the chance to grow and to change and to be more than we are today. Failure builds character, thickens skin, and it makes us stronger. Failure is necessary. Failure is important. Those that avoid failure at all cost by stopping short are cheating themselves. They will never have the benefit of laying it all on the line, letting it ride, and living and learning from the result.
As we work to change the game, let’s celebrate failure. Let’s embrace it and encourage all those around us to take risks, lay it on the line, and go for broke. Let’s also be there to support and encourage each other when we trip and fall.
Neil - Great post, and I couldn't agree with you more. I'm curious as to how this thinking translates for today's workforce, and more specifically, how the Gen Y / Millenial generation. There is much written about the Gen Y / Millenial generation and how they have been raised to "never experience failure", rather the emphasis has been on achievement, achievement, achievement - failure not an option. As such, they may not be well equipped to deal with failure, especially in work environments that traditionally don't look at failure as opportunities to learn, let alone celebrate.
How do we help both the Gen Y / Millenials and organizations reach a good happy medium around learning from failure?