FAILING IS IMPORTANT

Failing is important: Failure is not.

By Jennifer Ezuh

I would go further by saying that failing is not only important but it is a necessity in your journey to success.

If you have ever had the privilege of observing a child learning to walk; they learn to walk by falling a thousand times BUT each time they get up and try again. Some kids get a little scared of the falls and that might delay their progress but they never get to stop trying. Rather they learn how to use their environment to support themselves. They hold on to the edges of the sofa, coffee tables and anyone around them BUT they are not deterred from walking and suddenly they start walking unaided and even start running.

Some of the synonyms for failing are imperfection, defect, flaw, weakness, a lack, a shortcoming. Failing describes a process. Perfection only comes from working on imperfections. By failing to do something we are in the process of learning how not to do it.

 The crucial step in the process is how we deal with failing. We must FAIL FORWARD. When we are not able to accomplish a task, achieve a goal or just failing at anything we must learn to disassociate our person from the feeling of failing but challenge ourselves into learning from the process. 

We have to complete an analysis of the reasons we failed, what lessons we have learnt from the experience, what skills do we need that would give us an advantage in the future and how do we take these forward and apply it to situations we encounter in the future.

I had a recent experience in my work place where I had applied for a position. I had gone through the interview processes, spoken with my line manager and other people in senior positions about the opportunity and I thought I had their support however, I wasn't given this job. I felt quite upset about it especially when I started making inquiries and I realised the reason I wasn't given the opportunity was because they had a meeting and decided that I was not assertive enough. 

One was quoted to say "it was a shock to the system that I was interested in the position". After dealing with my disappointment and annoyance. I simply had to FAIL FORWARD. 

I asked myself what I could learn from this situation. I learnt that sometimes when you make a joke at work some people just use it against you so I curtailed that. I learnt that I cannot seek validation from people. It was up to me to achieve that validation.

I also learnt that you simply can't win in a game where someone else is making up the rules the best thing to do is to invent your own game. That was the birth of this blog.

I realised I was stifling my abilities by simply sticking to my job I could reach people on this platform and hopefully I can inspire you to take charge of your life and excel at it.

FAILURE IS NOT (IMPORTANT)

While failing is a process, failure is when you have given up on the process. With its own synonyms too; abandonment, non-fulfillment, miscarriage, abort, defeat, frustration, non-success.

Failure is when you refuse to learn from failing and you GIVE UP. I leave you with the Thomas Edison quote below. 

Perhaps you have failed at something and you are finding it hard to get back up again. I challenge you today to FAIL FORWARD. Pick yourself up from the ground, dust off the disappointments, clear out the bitterness, wash off the pain and stretch yourself into a full body posture. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that this experience does not define you. Maybe it is a failed relationship. Tell yourself you deserve better.

GET UP AND GO TO WORK SEE YOU AT THE TOP



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