How do you feel when you gave something your best shot and it didn’t work out as planned. It’s easy to name a project “dead” or “a failure!” But is it really? Try asking yourself these questions:
Did I learn something valuable in the process that I can use in the future?- Did this “failure” help me to change the direction of my efforts toward a more positive course?
- Can I inspire myself and others by looking back on this “failure” with humor and perspective?
- Was I able to practice skills and improve techniques while working on this “failure” and thereby improve personally?
- In spite of the failure, am I better off today than I would have been had I done nothing?
If you can say “yes” to any of these questions, your project is not a total failure. Rather it is part of the process which will ultimately lead to your success. Look into the history of any great achiever and you will see a past checkered with failure after failure. Yet, these exceptional achievers didn’t let the failures define them. On the contrary, they pushed forward with faith and determination until they reached their goals.
On this subject, legendary coach John Wooden quipped:
“The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that is a very big mistake!”
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so much for the motivators. I use them with students and parents.
Great words!!! Thanks for reminding me.
This is correct thinking for all. Failure puts you one step closer to your goal. Ii like this kind of thinking as i always say plan only one plan which is plan A and adjust as you go. If you have a plan B you think plan A IS NOT GOOD,therefore don’t use it. Adjust the plan A as you go. Ii like this site for it says success is just ahead.
Very true. The energy to try is sometimes difficult as it is to keep a positive drive while attempting to try. A very good question you can ask yourself “was my life better because I tried it” as you said. Also what lesson “did I learn from the experience” from the path I selected.
Short but very thought provoking..I sure like it.Tq