Don't Be Afraid To FAIL!

A lot of my LinkedIn Connections ask me about the approach I took to prepare for the certification exams I have done. They are interested in which materials I have used, how many hours I put into studying daily, and whether I self-study or use formal training. While these may seem like obvious questions to ask, you may find my response useless IF you are afraid to fail. Here is why the fear of failing is something to be embraced and not shunned.

1.   Failure is a Good Teacher - When you fail at something in life, how do you feel? Do you feel bad, depressed, feel like giving up? I know I did. If you did not answer yes to at least one of those questions, then, maybe you were not interested from the start, but If you were interested, instead of feeling bad or giving up, listen to what the failure is telling you. Your failure can help you to identify potential weaknesses, so you can work on them and be much better. Failure is a teacher who will not quit on you unless you quit first.

2.   Failure Can Make you More Creative - When we try something new, we learn something new. If we stick with it, failing can eventually lead to new and creative solutions to a problem. Finding new and unexpected paths can change the lens through which we view the world, and that is an exciting possibility!

3.   Failure Can Improve Your Focus - Failing at something you really want to achieve can surprise you in how can find renewed focus which helps you to adjust and work smarter towards achieving whatever goal(s) you set. This state of mind can bring out your assertiveness, at least in my experience.

4.   Failure Can Improve Your Confidence - Again, in my experience, I find myself being more confident in my actions and decisions because I have either failed in similar situations before and know what works and what doesn't or have learnt how to capitalize on failure as a tool for growth.

Nobody likes to fail, but it’s important for our growth. Instead of fearing failure, see it as an unpleasant reality that will accelerate your growth, if you embrace it.