What is your relationship with failure?

If you’re like most of us who were programmed early on that “failure was bad.”
Then this type of mindset limits ALL of our actions.

Any of these thoughts sound familiar?

Some meetings – “Don’t mention_______. Everyone will think it is a stupid idea.”

Some Sales calls – “I hope they don’t pick up, and I can just leave a voicemail.
I don’t want to be a pest.”

At home talking to a teenager about college – “Why don’t we look at some more realistic schools.
​ I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“Whether we want to admit it or not, we unconsciously make a majority of our decisions based on our relationship with failure.” – E. Papp

So how do we reprogram our mind to have a different view of failure?

3 Steps to Undo Years of Learning Failure is Bad

1. Quickly assess your behavior at work and home. Identify where you are limiting your results and the results of others by this crippling perspective.

If we are not aware of it, we won’t look for it, and, nothing changes.

2. Shift from the mindset of “Certainty and Avoiding Failure” to one of “Experimentation and Levity.”

Ever notice how serious and heavy an environment(team or culture) is where people feel they can’t make a mistake?

You think people do their best work in this culture?
Are people more concerned about creativity/collaboration or covering their *ss and comparison?

3. Don’t confuse your actions that failed with your confidence. When most of us fail, our confidence takes a big hit.

Confidence is one of the key ingredients to a successful life. Please protect it.

Remember, You didn’t fail, your actions didn’t simply produce your desired result.

Here is a 1min. video where I explain this concept.

My actions failed….so….I’m gonna take a different action.

Repeat and write down
“It’s not over until I win.”

Famous people who failed their way to success

J.K. Rowling
was a single mom living off welfare when she began writing the first “Harry Potter” novel

Albert Einstein
had difficulty learning as a child

Walt Disney
fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor felt he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”

Vera Wang
didn’t start designing wedding gowns till age 40

Check out more people who failed before they succeeded.

How has your relationship with failure limited your past accomplishments?
Please leave your comments below.