Leadership Lesson: The Wisdom of

Failure
Dec 28, 2014
Looking back, as we approach another year end and tabulating whether my
successes have been more than my failures. Its clear that failure has left its imprint.
The hardest blow came in the form of failing a major exam. The pain was crippling. It
did knock me out for a bit. But after all, how do you climb back onto the saddle when
the horse has flung you off: when your plans fall to pieces? Life will constantly test
your resolve and level of commitment.
If only we could have patience in the midst of our trials. Coping with rejection and
apparent failure is a serious matter. The tragic death of John Kennedy Toole
(American novelist born in 1937) screams this truth. No publisher would touch
Tooles book. He began suffering from paranoia and depression. In a vain attempt to
kill the pain, he committed suicide at the age of 31. Toole's novels were rejected
during his lifetime. However, posthumously, he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1980.

If
you focus on positive thinking, even the harshest defeat is only a stepping-stone.
Never let Success get to your Head. Never let Failure get to your Heart. I didnt get
consumed by losses, said the legendary NFL coach Don Shula, and I didnt get
overwhelmed by successes.
Many of us have stifled our life by heeding some misguided critic who implied we
were not good enough. Few things in life are certain but failure is.
Failure seems as something to be avoided at all cost. Although it leaves a sour taste,
we should embrace failure for the learning opportunity it is. Failure is the oldest
teacher, and perhaps the wisest of them all. Some things are impossible to
completely grasp without first falling down.
We live in a culture that values perfectionism and failure is often viewed as a sign of
weakness. People become so fixated on not failing that they never move forward.
When it comes to failing, our egos are our own worst enemies. It's easier to
accept failure in private, but once the failure is obvious to everyone around you, it's
becomes harder to accept it. Holding onto failures for way too long is destructive.

The Importance of Failure

Its a learning Experience Failure drives us to change. It represents

opportunity and growth. It gives new direction. There is always one or more
lessons to learn in what you may see as a failure.

It builds Character We learn how to behave when we finally accomplish our

goals. The humility we gain through our failures allows us to better handle and
appreciate success.

It makes you Stronger Its with persistence we overcome failure to achieve

success . When people fail, they feel unaccomplished, and so they try again
and again, until they finally reach success.

Your chances of Succeeding Increases Failures are the pillars for success.
You gain experiences you could not get any other way. Some things can
only be learned through trial and error.

Failure is a type of Freedom Why? Because the worst has happened. Now,
you can relax and rebuild again.

Success does not come easy. Everyone must face one hurdle after another. If you
think that once you have the success you crave, you can relax, you are sadly
mistaken.

Failure can be costly, not only emotionally but financially as well. Some industries are
very unforgiving as one or more failures may instantly get you the boot. The worse
thing anyone can do, is not learn from failures.
In recent years, more and more executives have embraced the point of view,
that failure is a prerequisite to invention. The fastest way to succeed, IBMs
Thomas Watson, Sr., once said, is to double your failure rate. The growing
acceptance of failure is changing the way companies approach innovation.
However, distinguishing between excusable and inexcusable failure is crucial.
Managing failure is key. Some mistakes are unpardonable for example producing
and marketing a dysfunctional product caused by poor quality control. Encouraging
failure doesnt mean abandoning or supervision or respect for sound practices.
Managing for failure requires leaders to be more engaged, not less.
I would like to share 20 Powerful Quotes on failure:
1. "You always pass failure on your way to success." ~Mickey Rooney

2. "A failure is a man who has blundered, but is not able to cash in the experience."
~Elbert Hubbard
3. "Failure is the tuition you pay for success." ~Walter Brunell
4. "Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition is not only a waste of energy
but the worst habit you could possibly have. ~Dale Carnegie
5. "Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called
failure." ~Soichiro Honda
6. "The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.
~Paramahansa Yogananda
7. "Success is not built on success. Its built on failure. Its built on frustration.
Sometimes its built on catastrophe." ~Sumner Redstone
8. "Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor." ~Truman Capote
9. "There is no failure. Only feedback." ~Robert Allen
10. "Remember that failure is an event, not a person." ~Zig ziglar

11. "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough."

~Og Mandino
12. "Its fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of
failure." ~Bill Gates
13. "Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again."
~Richard Branson
14. "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I cant accept not trying."
~Michael Jordan
15." Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an
equal or greater benefit." ~Napoleon Hill
16. "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
~Henry Ford
17." My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content
with your failure." ~Abraham Lincoln
18. "I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step
forward." ~Thomas Edison
19. "Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. "~F. Scott Fitzgerald
20. Our best success often come after our greatest disappointments. ~Henry Ward
Beecher
Finally, dont let the fear of failure hold you back.
Remember to take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.
Always find joy in your journey for as George Bailey said it best Its a Wonderful
Life!

I wish you the very best in life, success and prosperity for 2015 and onwards.
I really appreciate that you are taking the time to read this post. Here are the other 9
Leadership posts I have written:

7 Ps Leaders use to Achieve Goals

Dont fall into these Leadership traps in 2015
The 3 Pills every Leader should take
Leadership...the art of Inspiring self
5 Deadly Sins of Leadership
Leaders: Beware of Followers
Life Lessons Successful Leaders wish they had learned earlier
Are Leaders Born or Made? A True Story
5 Qualities of Truly Remarkable Leaders

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