Embracing the 'F' Word: The Dirty Little Secret to Success
Jamison Ernest
Co-founder/Co-Ceo/Chief Creative Officer/General Partner at Blue Scorpion Investments at Blue Scorpion Investments, L.P.
Embracing the 'F' Word: The Dirty Little Secret to Success
The first rule of Success Club is: You do not talk about the "F" word in Success Club. The second rule of Success Club is: You DO NOT talk about "F" word in Success Club. In a world that celebrates success, there is a dirty little secret that no one likes to talk about: its less glamorous counterpart, failure. Failure, the dreaded "F" word, is a part of the journey that many would rather not discuss. However, it is an important part of the process that deserves recognition and appreciation. In fact, failure can be the driving force behind eventual success.
There is a cultural taboo surrounding failure, as if it is a dirty little secret that should be kept hidden away.?"Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan." It's a proverb that means that when things go well, many people will claim credit for the success, but when things go wrong, people are quick to distance themselves from the failure and avoid taking responsibility. We are taught from a very young age that failure is something to be avoided at all costs. But in reality, failure is simply an opportunity to learn and grow (tell that to my investors). It is a chance to examine what went wrong and figure out how to do better next time. Failure is the building block upon which success is built.
Many of history's greatest successes were born from failure. Thomas Edison famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." His determination and willingness to learn from his mistakes led to the creation of the light bulb and other groundbreaking inventions. Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, was fired from his own company only to return years later and lead it to unprecedented success. These individuals saw failure as an opportunity to pivot and adjust, rather than a reason to give up.
Even beyond the realm of business, failure plays a crucial role in personal growth. When we fail, we are forced to confront our weaknesses and limitations. We are pushed out of our comfort zones and challenged to do better. Failure can be a humbling experience, but it can also be a motivating one. It encourages us to try harder and work smarter.
Of course, none of this is to say that failure is easy. It is painful and demoralizing experience, especially when it happens repeatedly. But we must remember that failure is not the end of the road. It is simply a detour on the journey to success if you don't quit midway. By embracing failure, we are able to approach challenges with a growth mindset and a willingness to learn.
Take some notes, mi amigos - the "F" word isn't all horrible! In fact, it can be one of your secret weapons for achieving success. Here are 10 ways to make failure your frenemy:
Failure can be your worst best friend. Embrace it, learn from it, and watch your success skyrocket. After all, as the great philosopher Samuel Beckett once said, "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
Here are 5 New York Times best-selling books about failing leading to success that you should read or listen to the audio book version for some inspiration:
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2. "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth - This book argues that grit, or the combination of passion and perseverance, is the key to achieving success and overcoming failure.
3."Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck - This book explores the power of mindset, and how a growth mindset can help individuals overcome failure and achieve success.
4. "Fail Until You Don't: Fight. Grind. Repeat." by Bobby Bones - This book shares the story of Bobby Bones' journey to success, including his many failures along the way.
5."Black Box Thinking: Why Most People Never Learn from Their Mistakes—But Some Do" by Matthew Syed - This book explores the importance of learning from failure, and how embracing failure can lead to greater success.
You can't "F"ail if you never give up...Jamison
KPMG National Training Facilitators Corps | Learning & Development | Economic & Valuation Services Tax Practice
2 年Adding those books to my list!
Owner and Director: bodyART Training Studios
2 年Perfectionism and fear of failure are very often intertwined, which can create a real sense of paralysis. However, taking action (even the “wrong” action) always produces information. You will never know what doesn’t work until you try it, and even so, you will inevitably find aspects of your experiment that you’ll want to roll over and keep for next time (AKA info). This is a realization that recovering perfectionists grapple with all the time.