The Speaking Tree - Success and Failure
AMIT SOOD
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How is success a failure, and failure a success?
I wish I could learn from failures. I don't. Failures push me into a dark place. I feel weak, lose confidence, get busy with countless what-ifs, search for who I could blame. I hate failing. I find it easier to learn from success. Success teaches me what works. Success expands my mood, makes me creative and bold. Success inspires me to double my effort, setting up a nice feedback loop.Perhaps I should stop calling failures as failures. Failures are actually partial successes.With each failure, things don't happen as bad as they could have. If I could focus on what went right within what went wrong, my failures might look like partial successes. That might make it easier for me to learn from them.
When asked how my day is going, I often reply: less than perfect, but better than expected! Most events could have gone both better and worse than they did. With that perspective, most events are simultaneously partial failures and partial successes. If I am convinced of this, then it is up to me to choose which part of the experience I focus on.
In success, I could see where I failed and improve, and in failures, I could see where I succeeded and remain inspired to learn. Each event is a mix of failure and success; celebrate the effort and grow from each experience.
I wish I could learn from failures. I don't. Failures push me into a dark place. I feel weak, lose confidence, get busy with countless what-ifs, search for who I could blame. I hate failing. I find it easier to learn from success. Success teaches me what works. Success expands my mood, makes me creative and bold. Success inspires me to double my effort, setting up a nice feedback loop.Perhaps I should stop calling failures as failures. Failures are actually partial successes.With each failure, things don't happen as bad as they could have. If I could focus on what went right within what went wrong, my failures might look like partial successes. That might make it easier for me to learn from them.
When asked how my day is going, I often reply: less than perfect, but better than expected! Most events could have gone both better and worse than they did. With that perspective, most events are simultaneously partial failures and partial successes. If I am convinced of this, then it is up to me to choose which part of the experience I focus on.
In success, I could see where I failed and improve, and in failures, I could see where I succeeded and remain inspired to learn. Each event is a mix of failure and success; celebrate the effort and grow from each experience.
