What is failure?

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Failure is when you don't get a result that you intended.

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When we villainize failure, we villainize life

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When we insist on guaranteeing success for each and every transaction, we often ensure our failure in the larger picture and in life itself. Failure is an integral part of being alive. Failure is feedback to guide our actions in life. Failure is a reminder that life is a glorious risk. Without the possibility and actuality of failure, life would not be life.

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If every request you make must be answered with a “yes,” if every attempt you make must meet with success, then you will be stopped at every corner and every turn. You will box yourself into smaller and smaller corners, trying to avoid anything that confronts the risk that life is.

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Let's get smart about risk and failure

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If, however, we are clear about what we can control as contrasted with what we can only influence, then, by being willing to stay in action, as we let go of control, we can often dramatically increase the influence we have, not only with an individual action but especially with the results we get in the long run.

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More failure can mean more success

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For example, a salesperson who insists on controlling the outcome with each prospect may create a lot of upset both for themselves and for the prospect. Whereas, the salesperson who gives full effort, while letting go of controlling the outcome, will often win over the prospect and will certainly win over the day. The most important factor in determining our success in life is our attitude and viewpoint regarding failure and risk.

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Curious about failure

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Failure is something to get curious about.

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"What did I intend that I didn't get?"

"Is there anything to learn here?"

"What are the benefits or gifts in not getting what I intended?"

"Am I honoring myself for the courage I took in being willing to risk not getting what I intended?"

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"The fastest way to succeed is to double your failure rate."

—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1966, Founder, IBM)

"Failure is an event, never a person."

—William D. Brown (1798–1859)

"We pay just as dearly for our triumphs as we do for our defeats.

Go ahead and fail. But fail with wit, fail with grace, fail with style.

A mediocre failure is as insufferable as a mediocre success.

Embrace failure! Seek it out. Learn to love it.

That may be the only way any of us will ever be free."

—Bruce Barton (1886–1967, American author, advertising executive)