Celebrating Failure…is that possible?
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Yes, that is right…glorious failure! With the biggest sporting tournament in the world now on us, that well cliched line “glorious failure” may well reappear.
On occasions, England’s players have had the accolade, giving their all, fighting against adversity, blood, sweat and tears, yet falling a fraction short…so, can we celebrate failure?
First of all, lets agree on one thing, to fail, means that you must have tried something in the first place…a big tick!
While we all love success stories, we squirm at the thought of failure, yet anyone who has achieved any degree of success in their lives, will have fallen on the journey. Its then a case of how you pick yourself up and what you learn.
To succeed at many things in life, we have to face our fear…it takes us from our comfort zone and allows us to challenge ourselves…irrespective of the outcome, you will have strengthened your resolve, making you better equipped for any future challenge!
A very topical quote and relevant to our modern world of social media, comes from Elon Musk… “Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough”
We learn from glorious failure, and years down the line, will look back and realise that it was an attempt that ended in failure that allowed for the future success now enjoyed!
In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub four-minute mile…a seismic moment that proved what the human can achieve…yet that very success, stemmed from a number of glorious failures, only reinforcing the belief that a sub four mile was possible. Strengthening the mind, changing training plans and adjusting tactics!
The success of Bannister and his team is summed up by this quote from Churchill…” Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
We can celebrate failure, safe in the knowledge that it can give us clarity of thought…what is the best way?
Similarly, it strengthens the bond of all great teams…together is stronger, and together, we will succeed!
Its only through failure, that we can grown and develop, and with new resolve…now surely that’s worth celebrating!
“I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
Thomas Edison