What’s up? Thank you for checking in. This will be a powerful blog that will convince you that failing is not only a part of success but learning from failure is the most important thing you can do on your way to success. As we’ve discussed, REAL Success is just like a video game; you can’t get to the next level until you pass the previous one. Unlike a video game, however, you only have one life to live. Yes, in a video game, you can use a life, learn from a mistake, and play again. You don’t get that same luxury in life; but you can learn from failure, including someone else’s, so it’s not GAME OVER.
What does it mean to fail? Failure means something different to us than most peoples’ definition. It does not mean that the goal has not been achieved, because instead of failure, this just means you aren’t there yet. REAL failure is when you stop going. Again, this does not mean to quit, because sometimes quitting (like alcohol abuse, for example) is a part of the journey to success. To stop going is simply a lack of effort. NEVER stop going. Failing at achieving a goal is not an excuse to stop going. Again, failing to achieve your goal does not mean that the goal is unattainable; it just means you aren’t there yet. An obstacle is not an excuse to fail either. The obstacle is what you need to become stronger on your journey. To keep it REAL, we will all feel like we’ve failed at some point in our life. The good news is that you can use that feeling of failure to succeed. It’s just another tool, like networking and writing your goals down, that you can add to your toolbox.
When you feel like you’ve failed, the first thing you should do is step back from the situation and reflect. A good strategy when reflecting is to ask the questions: Who, What, When, Where, How and Why? Yes, use these prompts to help you figure out exactly what went wrong and how to correct it for the next time. These are indeed prompts, so you have the ability to frame these questions in whatever way fits with the situation, but the goal is to pinpoint exactly where you can improve. The key here is that you have to be completely honest with yourself in order for this strategy to work. Then, you have to act.
We’ve already alluded to this but we will just keep it REAL: Failure is a feeling, not a circumstance. As long as we are alive, we can always make steps toward success. Even in death, we have not failed if the impact and influence we’ve left on society remains. While you’re alive, however, you have the ability to act on your feeling of failure. What can you do about it? How can you fix this feeling of failure that you have? Sometimes you will come to the conclusion that there is an action that needs to take place; whereas sometimes you might come to the conclusion that it is simply a mindset shift or perspective change that needs to happen. Either way, the act of reflection is what will help you learn from that feeling and act accordingly.
We hope this post helped you see how failure can be a positive step toward success. Failure is an opportunity. Reframe that negative perception of failure and see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Success is sweeter when it’s earned so don’t be discouraged by the fact that success has not been given to you yet. Earned success allows for appreciation of the journey. Further, when you’ve finally found REAL Success, it’s most important to share your story with our future leaders so that they can learn from your failures and how you kept going to inspire them to do the same.
Keep it REAL.
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