A lesson in determination and perseverance

Some years ago while riding my mountain bike along some trails I came across a small but very steep hill. Just as I approached the summit the front wheel lifted off the ground and, fearing I was going to fall backwards, I quickly put my feet on the ground and applied the brakes as I leaned forward. At that point I had a choice to make: push my bike up to the summit and continue riding or go back to the bottom of the hill...and try again. I chose the latter. 

Once at the bottom of the hill I made some adjustments to the front and rear suspensions. Then, as I approached the hill again, I shifted gears and I leaned as far forward as I could. Just as I approached the summit, the steepest part of the climb, the front wheel lifted off the ground again! For the second time I walked the bike back down. After analyzing what had happened I realized that, as I approached the steepest part of the climb, and the bike slowed to an almost standstill, I was suddenly pushing harder on the pedals. This created enough torque to lift the front wheel off the ground. 

That day I failed five consecutive times to reach the summit. Five times! Feeling totally out of energy, with sore legs, and frustrated I rode back home. Before I rode away, however, I looked at that hill and with clenched teeth I said, “tomorrow.” I spent the rest of the day thinking about that hill and my technique. 

I didn’t know it then but when I rode away that day, having failed five times to reach the summit, I had become a far better rider than I had ever been. Why? Because I had learned something from each failed attempt. 

The next day, despite my legs still feeling sore, I woke up determined to try again. As I approached the hill I applied everything I had learned the day before. Approaching the summit, as the bike slowed down to an almost standstill and the front wheel started to lift up, I continued pushing the pedals at the same steady pace. I made it on my first attempt and I was absolutely elated! 

I had to learn valuable lessons from each failed attempt in order to be good enough to conquer that hill. Reaching the summit that day gave me the confidence to know that, regardless of how steep the next hills were, I could make it...even if I failed numerous times in the process. My message to you is that it is ok to fail. In fact, if you don’t fail at least once you are probably not trying hard enough to succeed. 

Remember, failure is a necessary part of the process. Learn from failure...and keep on trying. You too can reach the summit!