Fall In Love With Failure!

Today I want to talk about failure. What? Failure? Yes! It is so important! When we set out to do something, we never think, "I really hope I FAIL at this!" Right? Of course not! We hope we succeed at whatever it is we want to accomplish.

I went to a seminar not too long ago and the speaker said that we should "fall in love with failure." It really made me think. She said that when we first start something, we are going to have moments of failure along the way. There are going to be times where we fall on our face. It's ok. Get up, brush yourself off, and ask yourself, "what can I do better next time?" Just like when a child is learning to walk, they fall over and over. They keep getting back up - that is the key! 

We would never consider Thomas Edison a failure, would we? According to his teacher, he was hyperactive and easily distracted at school so his mom pulled him out and taught him at home. He attempted over 9,000 experiments before creating the first commercially viable incandescent light bulb. 

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school… three times! Beethoven's music teacher told him that he had no talent! These people did not stop when they heard the word no. They had the TENACITY to keep on going!  

If you have started your own business and keep hearing "no," from customers or investors, remember to not take it personally. Just think of it as "next opportunity." It may not be "no" forever, it may be "no, not right now." 

And if you ever need a pep talk, watch this little girl!