To fail forward is, in short, to fail. I know. Fairly obvious, ehh?
It goes a bit deeper than that. Failing forward means that you are heading in the right direction (good news, no?). It means there is hope if you look at it in that way. It is plugging away in spite of being discouraged.
It is staying up late even though there have been no results to show for your effort. It is getting up again, and again, and again. And again. It is refusing to see your current situation as permanent.
True failure comes in these two forms alone.
What failing forward isn’t:
- Quitting – Most people are willing to give only so much. The amount is different for each person. But, they have a predetermined thresh hold of effort that is changed to fit the situation. In other words, they talk a tough show. But, when it comes down to it, they’ll quit at the first excuse they can find. They will buy a product and use it once, and convince themselves that it doesn’t work. They will exercise for 30 minutes and not see results, and quit. They live in denial. In essence they are deciding that their success in this area is not worth the effort.
- Not trying at all – This failure might be the saddest of all. At least the person that quits can summon a bit of comfort knowing they ‘gave it a go.’ This person will not even make an attempt. They also live in denial. They base future history on their past results. Common thoughts and words from this group are: ‘What’s the sense in trying? Don’t you remember what happened last time? I’m not losing my money. I’m going to die anyway.’
There can be no victory if there is no effort.
Failing forward is all about effort. It is about ‘want to.’ If you aren’t willing to try or are looking for an excuse to quit, you need not apply to this exclusive club.
Consider yourself fortunate if you do choose to fail forward. Most won’t. They’ll either quit or not try at all. You, however, are getting a thorough education. But, only if you continue moving forward. Each failure is another degree that you have earned and whether it was time or a monetary loss, it matters not.
Learning is a key.
Another key is implementing your knowledge.
The last key is to be in the group that proudly says, ‘I failed forward.’
Consider yourself in that group, friend. You’re here.
Live it LOUD!
Rob
Please share with some of the readers how you have or are failing forward. What kept you going during that trying time?
Thanks for sharing (ahead of time!). It helps remind us we all face challenges.