“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan
Whether you follow basketball or not, chances are you know the name: Michael Jordan. He’s considered by many as the greatest basketball player of all time. Talented? Check. Dedicated? Check. Successful? Obviously. Failure? Yes. Wait, what?
Michael Jordan is living proof that when it comes to pursuing a goal, knowing how to leverage failure is as important as talent and hard work. He doesn’t fear failure because he knows it’s essential to his success.
You see, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team because he wasn’t good enough. Michael. Jordan. Wasn’t good enough. At basketball. But he didn’t let failure define him. He used it as a catalyst to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA.
When we start something new, no one wants to focus on the potential for failure. Where’s the fun in that? We imagine crossing the finish line victorious, not placing last. But sometimes we do finish last, or not at all. By accepting failure as part of the process we can learn some valuable life lessons that can lead to success. All it takes is a shift in perspective.
Does failure discourage you? Does your inner critic take over? Do you avoid new things to prevent failure? If so, here are three life lessons that may help you see failure in a new light:
- If you don’t try new things you may avoid failure, but you also miss the chance to succeed. Remember the last time you tried something new, persevered, and succeeded? Chances are you weren’t very good at the beginning. But you tried, persisted, and evolved.
- Failure is an opportunity for personal grow. Think of a recent failure you experienced. Chances are you learned something valuable and expanded your view of yourself. What did the experience teach you?
- Failure can be a sign. It may be signaling you to try a new approach, or creative strategy, or attitude adjustment to help you get ahead. Remember, when it comes to new beginnings, there’s always room for improvement.
It may feel counterintuitive, but failure can teach us valuable life lessons, if we let it. It can show us we’re more resilient than we thought. It can be a sign it’s time to change our ways. It can give us a sign that it is time for a new path. It’s an opportunity for growth.
When it comes to new beginnings, we improve the odds of success by leveraging our failures, instead of avoiding them. If it’s worth dreaming it’s worth pursuing, no matter the obstacle. Try. Fail. Learn. Improve. Never give up.
What’s the failure in your career that taught you the most?