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Of using failure as stepping stone to success
2006-02-16 08:59:11
By Simbiso Machine
Failure can be a beautiful experience. Why? This is because it provides us with an opportunity to develop courage. Or, as Confucius said, ’Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’
Anyone who has seen the movie Rocky can never forget the scene in which he continually rises after being knocked down in the ring over and over again. Bloodied and barely able to see, he continues to get up and stagger towards his opponent.
At one time we were all just like Rocky. As infants learning to walk we would just get up after each fall. We were courageous! What happened? Why did many of us change? Well, as infants, our parents encouraged us.
That is, they brought out the courage that naturally resided in us. But as we grew and experienced the jeers instead of cheers of our peers, courage somehow got pushed into a corner of our psyche, and eventually we forgot ever having it.
I vividly remember the way my class six Maths teacher would yell at someone for failing to solve a mathematical problem. As if that was not enough, he would thrush you with his cane and call you a failure. For fear of being called a failure, I never raised my hand in the Maths class. I began to hate the Maths lessons from then on.
Things changed when I got to secondary school where the teacher was so encouraging giving comments like, ’that’s a good attempt, not quite, can you try solving it using another angle or something like anyone with a different idea?’
But then do we have to be scared of failing for the rest of our lives? If so how will we register success if we don’t try? It’s time to say: I won’t take it any more; I’m going to reclaim my courage!
The best way to begin is by realizing that failure is an event, not a person. In other words, if you were to try something new and fail 10 times in a row, you would not be a FAILURE, but a PERSON who has experienced 10 failures. That’s a big difference.
So, if there’s something you want to do and are unsuccessful, dust yourself off and try again! Remember, the only people who never fail are those who never try.
When we were young, we used to recite a poem which went, ’try try try again.
If at first you don’t succeed, try again another day.’ It motivated us a lot and it taught us that there is nothing wrong in failing. It taught us perseverance. To this day whenever I face a difficult situation, I start reciting that poem and it gives me courage to keep trying.
A good example is that of Thomas. Edison. After 10,000 unsuccessful attempts to develop his electric lightbulb, he said, ’I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.’ Edison realized that men do not fail; they give up trying. He realized that success means not giving up. Shouldn’t we be following his example?
A thousand failures are not motivating and do not make one feel good. Back in his day, there was no such thing as a motivational speaker. So what kept him bouncing back from repeated failure?
The fact is, success is the result of bouncing back during times of discouragement without dependency on others. Thomas Edison used discouragement as a stepping-stone to achievement. Each failure was a challenge to try harder.
He achieved his goal because he had a vision that motivated him. A vision that motivates is the standard constant for success across all social classes and/or lifestyles. It does not matter how many years a person spent in classrooms. A motivating vision is the common denominator for achievement.
President Abraham Lincoln never went to school; he became President because he had a vision that motivated him. In addition, his vision was so powerful that it motivated everyone around him and that energy motivated the country.
Failure is more than an opportunity to develop courage. It is also a valuable lesson. When we learn from our mistakes, we can avoid committing them again. Besides, to succeed in life we need experience, and we gain experience by making mistakes.
Don’t be disheartened by failures; after all, you don’t drown by falling in water; you drown by staying there.
Failure is also feedback. It is a reminder that we must take corrective action before we can reach our goal. We can rejoice in our failures because each one brings us that much closer to success.
Here’s what Thomas J. Watson, Founder of IBM, had to say on the subject, ’Would you like me to give you a formula for... success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You’re thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all... you can be discouraged by failure — or you can learn from it.
So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because, remember that’s where you’ll find success.’
Which is better, to try something and fail or to try nothing and succeed? I think you will agree it is far better to try. Remember, there are three kinds of people: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who say, ’What happened?’
If we wish to belong to the first group, we have to take risks and try. So, let’s start today by defying failure, learning from our mistakes, and forging ahead.
Failure is a learning tool. Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before he invented the light bulb.
The real winners in life tolerate failure and the agony it produces.
Those who are willing to take risk and lose achieve success.
Many people choose to engage in occupations and activities that are safe and conventional.
They do not deliver satisfaction, fulfillment or joy in living.
Their real failure is failing to move in the directions of their dreams.
If everything you do works, you are not trying hard enough. Positive attitudes will provide persistence until knowledge and quality decision skills are acquired.
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