“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”-Henry Ford
- “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”-Sir Winston Churchill
It is okay to fail. I have to tell this to myself quite often actually. I don’t like failing and I prefer to have everything “under control.” The thing is that in order to have much success, you have to have corresponding failures. I have heard it said by a Fortune 500 CEO that he can tell how likely a person is going to be successful by how the person responds to failure. The key is in the response. What happened when you fell off your bike for the first time? Did you ever try again? Or did you give it away? What about when you asked that girl out on a date and she said no? Was that it, single for life? Or did you fight past the fear of failure and get the first date with your wife?
We don’t get to choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose how we RESPOND to it. I don’t know about you, but I need a good kick in the pants once in a while. I need to fight past the fear of failing and the “what if’s”
What would you try if you knew that you would succeed? Would you apply for that job you have been dreaming of for years? Would you start learning about investing in stocks rather than a savings account? Would you start your own business?
We are only down here for a short while and this life is but a blink of an eye. I refuse to have my life ruled by a fear of failure. How about you?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Fear of failure is what many times separates the haves from the have nots. People who take risks that are thought out usually end up on top. Whether it is going into business for yourself or taking a lower paying job so that you can fulfill a calling in your life people who are willing to go out on a limb and try live more fulfilled lives.
@Saving Freak
You are right, life is about managing risk – You can never COMPLETELY remove risk, it will always be there, and the costs (financial, social, and a bunch more) are very high if we try to completely remove it. Finding the appropriate balance is key.
Great quote!
Excellent article! I liked the example of asking your wife out on the first date. If we can keep our goals, and the rewards that we hope to achieve, in mind, it helps to overcome that fear of failure.
As a rental property owner, it can be a trying experience to deal with problem tenants. Yet, I try to bear in mind that despite the difficulties I have in dealing with these tenants, at the end of the day, they are paying off the mortgage to the house they live in, and they are providing me with monthly income. From that perspective, a few headaches is a small price to pay.