WHAT WORLD RENOWNED ACTOR DENZEL WASHINGTON AND I JUST TOLD MY VERY DEAR FRIEND ABOUT FAILURE

WHAT ACTOR DENZEL WASHINGTON AND I JUST TOLD MY VERY DEAR FRIEND ABOUT FAILURE MIGHT JUST SURPRISE YOU

Although fearful of giving a speech to thousands of people (when making a movie, you only face a camera and a few people; you have many chances to get it right), the world-famous actor, Denzel Washington, did it was brilliant. (A must-see video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FfL46OzYI.)?

Around the globe, I have given talks of a similar nature (but not nearly so well), and the kids loved them, and the faculty hated them. For some reason, faculty members don’t want kids to get handed the actual definition of success and the secrets to obtaining it. Faculty “succeeded” the hard way, “and so should the kids.” Within the faculty ecosystem, you are not allowed a single brain fart (er mistake).?

In the real world, people who, in truth, are the most “successful,” as properly defined, push the corners of the envelope, and fail early and often, sometimes daily.?

It takes just one Home Run in business (which, thank the Lord, I have had) for nearly everyone to forget a dozen failures. But both Denzel and I would be glad to fail anyway since failure is part of the spice of life. And can give meaning to a life that otherwise would be both boring and wasted.?

I know an intelligent guy in my law school class who went to a very safe and effortless job right out of law school. Great guy, very smart, very promising, but he never grew through challenge and never contributed much to society or the world. I believe, like Denzel, that my friend, because he feared failing, wasted most of his gifts and most of his time and energy repeatedly doing mostly frivolous tasks. He was a cog and not an engine.?

I truthfully tell people that I am prouder of my failures than of my successes. They are a badge of honor, as far as Denzel is concerned. He is 100% right. There will be fewer ghosts of wasted skills, time, energy, or opportunities at my death. Wins or losses are not significant enough to have their own ghosts. In reality, only doing the best you can do to make a difference counts.?

NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG. Everyone, including Denzel and me, is afraid of challenge and scared of failure. But, it is how you hold challenge and failure in your heart and soul that counts. If you learn something from a challenge, it is enhanced 10x if you fail. And then you have the reward of enhanced insight, knowledge, and wisdom. And are one step closer to making the difference in the world that you so desperately want to make.?

Everyone shuns challenge, and everyone is scared of challenge—only a few muster the courage, energy, and passion for overcoming that fear.?

Go for the passion, and the Good Lord will help you with the courage and the energy. Press on. Be brave. Fail early and often.?Embrace your failures. Make a massive difference with your life.?