Success Principle#21 Embracing failure: The stepping stone to success.

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford

"Failure is a stepping stone to success" - a phrase we have all heard innumerable times, but how often do we truly internalize its profound wisdom? Learning from failures is a crucial aspect of personal growth and success. It is essential to recognize that even the most accomplished individuals have faced setbacks and disappointments on their path to greatness.

One of history's greatest inventors, Thomas Edison, serves as a prime example of how failure can be perceived positively. On his quest to invent the long-lasting electric light bulb, Edison encountered numerous setbacks. Despite this, he maintained an optimistic outlook, stating, "I've not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Edison's resilience and ability to learn from his mistakes ultimately led to his ground breaking success.

Sharing our failures openly and honestly can be challenging, as we fear judgment or embarrassment. I, too, hesitated to talk about my own failures until I gathered the courage to write this chapter. Over the course of my 34-year professional career, I experienced two instances of failure that resulted in my resignation from organizations.

During the first incident, my expatriate boss made an arbitrary and hurtful comment, stating that he didn't like my face. This painful encounter taught me a valuable lesson about resilience. It reminded me of the process of creating porcelain cups - they undergo rigorous trials to emerge as strong and beautiful pieces. Similarly, my failure served as a transformative experience, highlighting the need to base my actions on solid data and discussions with leadership, rather than solely relying on gut feelings.

The second failure struck me even harder. After my immediate boss retired, the organization's leadership changed, and my performance rating was downgraded. The blow to my ego was immense, and I reacted impulsively, resigning without considering an alternate plan. Looking back, I realized that my reaction was fuelled by pride and impatience. I should have given myself more time to adapt to the new management's expectations and prove my worth.

It is crucial to remember that even the most accomplished leaders have faced failures in their careers. The former CEO of GE, Jeff Immelt, once received a "needs improvement" rating in his appraisal. However, he didn't allow this failure to define him and instead used it as a catalyst to become a successful leader and eventually lead GE as CEO.

When confronted with failure in our professional lives, it is vital to distinguish between the experience of failure and labelling ourselves as failures. Rather than adopting a defeatist mindset, we should embrace failure as an opportunity for growth and learning. Instead of saying, "I am a failure," we should remind ourselves that failure is an event, not an identity.

The story of a businessman who rebuilt his business after a failure reinforces this perspective. He acknowledged his business's failure without internalizing it as his personal failure. By maintaining a positive outlook and refusing to identify himself as a failure, he eventually achieved regained success.

In conclusion, learning from failures is an integral part of the journey to success. We must recognize that failures are not permanent, and they do not define us as individuals. Embracing failure with resilience, humility, and a willingness to learn allows us to grow personally and professionally. Let us face failures head-on, give ourselves another chance, and use each setback as a stepping stone towards achieving our true potential and ultimate success.

“Failure is not the opposite of success; it is part of success.” – Unknown.

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