Category Archives: Failure

“Don’t think of it as failure. Think of it…”

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“Don’t think of it as failure. Think of it as time-released success.”

-Robert Orben, speechwriter for President Gerald R. Ford

Photo from Flickr by lu-lu

Photo from Flickr by lu-lu

Before I became a coach 22 years ago, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, where I had the good fortune to learn a great deal about business through jobs in sales, marketing, and advertising.

One of the industry developments during the 80s and 90s was that of time-released formulations that allowed patients to go longer periods between doses. This improved compliance and, presumably, clinical outcomes.

We have all heard the phrase “take your medicine,” which often means acknowledge, accept, and learn from our experiences—particularly mistakes and failures. Perhaps in this way failures and the lessons they provide are actually time-released sources of success.

EXERCISE:

How have your professional or personal setbacks or failures contributed to your developmental journey and the level of success you currently experience? Where are some of the challenges and obstacles facing you today releasing the knowledge and capacities of your future successes?

Failure is not Permanent

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“Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.”

—John Sinclair, American poet, writer, and political activist

Photo from Flickr by Tanisha Pina

Photo from Flickr by Tanisha Pina

When was the last time you skinned your knee, or cut yourself prepping a meal?

What was your immediate reaction (after the expletives)?

My guess is that you cleaned the wound, then allowed the healing process to begin. Do you recall how long it took to heal completely?

Unfortunately, many people experience failure as a wound that never heals, a wound that has the permanence of a tattoo, remaining for a lifetime.

EXERCISE:

How many failures do you wear, personally or professionally, as unwanted tattoos?

What change of perspective or other work is required for you to heal what you’ve believed was permanent?

“Remember that failure is an event, not a person.”

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“Remember that failure is an event, not a person.”

—Zig Ziglar, best-selling author and motivational speaker

Image from Unsplash by The Blowup

As a pioneer in the field of personal and professional development, Zig Ziglar saw clearly that experience – and yes, failure – was a critical factor in achieving success. Here, he is making a critical distinction about failure that retains personal dignity and self-worth, instead of correlating a person themselves as the failure.

My experience is that too many people fear the sting of “being a failure” – so they fail to even attempt new challenges, afraid that they will fall short in their efforts.

Exercise:

Use today to take bold and courageous actions toward your most desired goals, knowing that you are successful – no matter what – simply by making the effort.