Ah, the age-old adage of “embracing failure.” As I often find myself diving deep into these profound topics, a recent conversation with a budding entrepreneur brought this notion to the forefront yet again.
We sat over a cup of coffee, and she confided her fear of failing with her startup. It’s the kind of sentiment I hear all too often, but this time, it struck a different chord. Maybe it was the intensity in her eyes or perhaps the weight of her words. Either way, it got me thinking: Why do we even perceive failure as this monstrous beast lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce?
This train of thought reminded me of a quote by Thomas Edison:
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
The crux here is the word “won’t work.” Edison didn’t see these 10,000 attempts as individual failures but as integral steps on the path to his eventual success. If the invention of the lightbulb, something that revolutionized the world, stemmed from a string of “failures,” then surely failure is not the end but a pivotal part of the process.
Indeed, if we dissect any success story, we’ll find a common thread: a series of missteps, misjudgments, and miscalculations. But, it’s these very moments, these ‘failures,’ that pave the way to success.
So, the realization? It’s simple yet profound. Success isn’t just intertwined with failure; it’s birthed from it. In a world where we’re so averse to setbacks, maybe it’s time we reframe our perspective. See, failure isn’t the bitter pill we have to swallow; it’s the secret sauce.
And for all those out there dreading their next misstep, here’s my two cents (and remember, I’m no life coach): It’s not about avoiding the pitfalls – it’s about diving right into them, knowing that success is waiting on the other side. And don’t forget: For this to happen we need to learn from our failures—as failing for the sake of failing is just that: Failing.