I don’t know which astounds me more, the amount of people who are comfortable with the status quo or those who try something once and give up. In a previous blog, I touched on failure. Failure can be difficult to live through; however, it can be lived through. What we find when we learn about those we admire most is they have each been through some form of failure, often on more than one occasion. Even more importantly, your legacy is not based on your failures, but your endurance to push through them towards your successes. That said, I struggle with the fact that not enough people push through their failures towards anything of significance, leaving things to plateau not only in their lives but also in the legacy they leave behind to their children.
Two of my favorite quotes that deal with failure and our abilities to rise beyond those uncomfortable and often awkward moments in life are these: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out” by John Wooden (and extraordinary man) and a quote by Lee Cohen which says “Life’s rewards go to those who let their actions rise above their excuses.” What these two quotes mean to me is that successful people push forward – no matter the obstacles they face – towards their goals and desired outcomes. And yes, this undoubtedly includes failures.
One thing I’ve learned in life is that failure is inevitable. Those are just the cold hard facts. So the issue is not if you will face adversity and failure, but more like, when you do, how will you respond? Will you make the choice to look for another way to accomplish what you need? Will you expand your network so you can have more resources for your goals? Will you invest time in researching other solutions, or upgraded technology? Will you commit to putting your goals on paper and holding yourself accountable to seeing them through when the road gets tough? Or, will you decide that it’s easier to aim lower so that fear of failure never keep you from sleeping at night? Will you give it one try and if it doesn’t work…well, hey, at least you tried right?
I hope that people begin to embrace the lessons of failure and the promise that success is just around the corner. I hope that people begin to teach our young generations what it means to go out and work for what you want and what you believe in. That is after all, the American Dream. The opportunity to make your own way, create your own success and live the life you see when you close your eyes. I’m living my dream, failures and all. I encourage you to live yours.