Failure IS An Option: If You Want To Succeed!

Michael Jordan, J.K. Rowling, Henry Ford, John Grisham, Oprah Winfrey, Winston Churchill...they all failed at some point. Failed to be accepted on a high school basketball team, failed to have literary manuscripts accepted, failed to get the job or finished last in class.

When I was in my early teens, I attempted to earn a senior Red Cross swimming badge and failed. The instructor said that my style wasn't up to par. Funny thing was, I had grown up around fresh water lakes and was known to swim long distances with no problem.

Just as Hollywood has been able to capitalize on the value of a good story, so too do failure, tenacity, ordeals and rewards play starring roles in virtually every business success story.

One of my favourite TV news shows is CBS News Sunday Morning. This morning, they ran an interesting story called "If At First You Don't Succeed...What Are The Hallmarks of Failure, And Why Should We Ignore Them?"

Remember the old analogy that the more times you make it up to bat, the greater the propensity for success?  

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones puts it this way "...you have to be able to accept failure...you learn from your failures...you come back, you applied what you learned, your previous at-bat to your next at-bat, and hopefully you get a base hit. Hopefully you get a home run!"

Isn't it the same in business? How many businesses and/or product ideas were rejected in their first few rounds? How many product ideas were rejected because they were light years ahead of their time? (the copy machine was invented in 1937, but the idea was rejected by GE and IBM - Xerox introduced the idea about 10 years later...)

The story cites the example of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis to demonstrate that we learn more from our failures, than from our successes. If people get complacent, they cut corners and disasters can happen.

Many great artists and/or products don't become famous until well after their death. Vincent van Gogh apparently sold only one painting in his lifetime. The Edsel bombed, although it's valued today at around $200,000 apiece.

So if you're trying to succeed at something, take some inspiration from author J.K. Rowling's words who told an audience that she was at one point just one level above being on the street..."It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case you fail by default."

What have you accomplished, that at one point people said you couldn't do? What characteristics do successful people have, that they can deal with rejection and still come out on top? How is it possible to maintain a positive attitude and belief in yourself, when you're faced with obstacle after obstacle in achieving your goals?

Comments

[Quentin Evans]

Hey Karen,

Just a phenomenal choice of article topics and terrific sprinkling of relevant and inspirational examples!

I would say one of the common threads among all of the examples listed is that each person held an almost maniacal desire to do what they did. Although the term "obsession" can sometimes connote a negative feeling or action - there is the other side of the application which can suggest an ardent, dedicated and determined action towards a goal. This is a trait, that despite these individuals' various obstacles, failures and deterrents, enabled them to soldier on and accomplish what they set out to do (and sometimes more!).

To your point about positive attitude and self-belief, I wonder (since I don't know any of these people personally), if a sense of optimism and positivity played a role in overcoming the hurdles. I know personally that when faced with a challenge, I tend to always believe that with hard work, ingenuity and ethics, tomorrow can and will be a better day than today. For me, tomorrow might be two years away but once I have my mind set on something, I truly believe the "end" will be more fruitful than where I began. It's not to suggest that there isn't any doubt or "down" times - but as long as I remember what I'm doing it all for, those weak moments pass.

I've heard many successful people echo what Chipper Jones mentioned about "embracing and learning from a failing". I believe some people (for some reason) have a more natural inclination to appreciating the knowledge acquired versus dwelling on the setback. Often times, as long as I feel like I learned something (why it happened and how to avoid it), I'm pretty ok with it all and can move forward.

I suppose the one other variable in this equation is what the definition of "success" is for "you". I find too often we judge our own success/failure by the measuring stick of other people - as opposed to our own.

Striving to be an honest, giving and "good" man is my own personal measuring stick for whether I'm being successful in life or not. For me, vocation, hobbies and recognition place a distant second on my "success continuum". Giving and receiving love embody my barometer for success while success at work is merely the icing on the cake.

While being recognized for excellence in a field would certainly be a wonderful honour, I won't lose a wink of sleep over not receiving that recognition nor would I assume that my work is only mediocre.

So while the "icing" on the cake often gets our attention, it is indeed the quality of the cake that determines our willingness to eat it. And sometimes, when the cake is good enough on its own - there's no icing needed.

Thanks again for highlighting such an important topic... can't wait for the next one!

Best,
Quentin

[Karen Hegmann]

Hi Quentin

Thank you for your comments and awe inspired examples!

Wherever can I begin!

Firstly, I agree with your analysis regarding the traits of highly successful people. To me, "obsession" isn't necessarily a bad thing if it's focused and going in the right direction.

I think successful people have a tremendous belief in themselves, and in what they are doing. They definitely know how to analyze hurdles, and don't get bogged down in all the negativity that can happen when things aren't going so well.

In terms of defining success, I applaud you on your definition. All too often, we judge ourselves by the success of others (I tend to do this!)...as if we have failed if we haven't achieved the same level of success according to our definition of what that may be. In today's world, it's often measured in terms of material success and that doesn't help when you're facing challenges and striving to get to the next goal. I think that successful people have an almost gut feeling that they WILL make it someday...and that (whatever their definition)...success is theirs for the taking. I also think it's necessary to feel as if you're "worthy" of success. If you don't feel as if you deserve it, how can your actions be directed towards accomplishing your goals and how can you expect to be successful?

Your cake analogy is priceless - and oh so true!

Thanks again for stopping by!