Fall in Love with Failure

The very first time I read the statement, "Seek Failure", I remember that I completely rejected the idea in that same moment. Failure wasn't  something I wanted to be part of my life experience. I only wanted success!

It took me a long time to finally digest the ideology behind "seeking failure". The truth is you cannot grow if you stay in your comfort zone, if you live in your pink or blue cotton-candy environment. Perhaps that looks like being in a relationship that you fell into and now you’re too comfortable to leave. Or maybe that looks like that job of yours that feels like Groundhog Day, but hey, it pays the bills, so why leave, right?

Mediocrity Is The Enemy

I remember a situation, where I wanted to train a local sales team the methodology I am teaching, because I knew they would get huge and instantly measurable results. After explaining the advantages of the coaching to the sales director, he simply replied that the team was doing good enough and decided against implementing the training.

Let’s put his response in another way: ‘Things aren’t broken so why fix them?’

Does this sound familiar to you? Why would anyone want to improve on ‘good’? When did we as a species settle back and accept “comfortable” or “adequate” as being the best state we could ever hope to achieve? Here’s the thing; you cannot move forward without taking a risk, without moving out of your comfort zone and without experiencing failure.

Not Everything You Learn In School Is Good

We have been conditioned that failure is bad. This conditioning goes all the way back to your school days. I don’t know about you, but if I dared to flunk a test, or had a miserable passing grade, my teacher, my parents and sometimes my own classmates were on me like a ton of bricks. The shame, the embarrassment and the constant pressure conditioned me over the years to feel ALLERGIC to failure. So much so, that I wouldn’t attempt anything that I thought may end in failure. I KNOW you know what I’m talking about. We have all been programed to be fearful toward failure.
But understand this, it is the only way we learn! So Seek It. Seek Failure.

We Know How To Succeed – We’ve Simply Forgotten How To Do It

Think back to the time when you started walking. Ok, I know you probably cannot remember that, but you can maybe recall memories of it as you watch your own children or niece as they try to walk for the first time. Learning to walk ain’t pretty. The entire process is failure after failure. But with each bump and bruise, came the knowledge and insight that you needed to succeed. And before long, our walking turned into running. You see? This is the only way by trial and error. Therefore, failure is a natural part of life and more you seek failure, the more successful you will be.

Have you become fearful of failure? I am here to tell you that you have to embrace the idea of failure and look to fail.

Because…
The more you fail, the more you learn.
The more you learn, the more growth you experience.
The more growth you experience, the more successful you become.

I want you to learn to fall in love with failure. Go back to your god given ability to find solutions when you experience failure. Never give up on continued growth and evolving into the best version of yourself.

It is your duty to unfold and blossom into the magical creature you're supposed to be.

Go forth, make it count,
Marc