Lessons Well Learned

Failure is necessary. We learn more form mistakes, missteps and setbacks than we learn from our successes. Failure is never pretty or planned, but when failure happens, it is what happens next that makes the difference between ultimate success or permanent defeat. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Failure Happens. This isn't a pessimistic or negative statement. It's a reality. The road to success is never a straight and smooth ride. There are curves, uphill and downhill passages, detours and roadblocks. When you start on your journey to success, expect these things and don't be surprised by them. In fact, you should have some plans in place to handle the most likely setbacks to occur.

Naysayers Take Notice: When you experience a setback, there will be people there to tell you that they told you so or that they knew it was going to happen. They wanted to see you go down and once you fall down, there goal is to keep you there. Always have a few people around you that will help you back up with encouragement and support.

Learn the Lesson: Why did things not go as planned? What can you do differently? Were there signs and signals along the way that you ignored? Within each failure is at least one lesson you can learn to make things better the next time around. Learn those lessons and you are setting yourself up for success

Setbacks are Temporary: True failures are permanent. To truly fail, you have to give up and stop trying. If you fall down and get back up and persevere you will eventually succeed. But that success will never happen is you give up.