“It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.”
-J.K. Rowling
You’re A Failure
Last week, one of the executives I work with called me a failure.
He said it in a joking manner, and on the surface I laughed it off. Deep inside however, it nagged at me, and the fire of indignation was kindled.
I fumed over his comment for days, and tried to justify to myself that I was not, in fact, a failure.
I’ve always been very conscious of what people think of me. My perception of my standing with others has often influenced me to make decisions that would keep my reputation untainted, or satisfy those people closest to me. As a result, I’ve rarely been seen as a “failure.”
Having recently read Seth Godin’s Poke the Box (which focuses a lot on why failing is vitally important to be a success), I realized that the way I make decisions; or rather the WHY I make decisions is, and often has been wrong.
To put it simply, for 27 years I’ve been a failure at failing. And let’s be honest, when taken in context, it’s kind of sad.
Fortunately, this realization came to mind during a very important decision-making time in my life.
This week I decided to leave my stable job, my life-long friends, my family, and everything I’ve become familiar with over the past 20-something years and move to Florida… a strange and unfamiliar place where I have no network, no friends, and no family.
I’m making this decision in spite of the fact that I know friends and family would prefer I not go. I’m making this decision regardless of the fact that my current job is the best job I’ve ever had. My coworkers are like family to me. Many will be as sad to see me go as I will be to leave.
I’m making this decision because, quite simply, I want it.
I’m done being scared of failing.
I don’t know what’s going to happen on the East Coast. I don’t know who my friends will be. I don’t know if I’ll regret moving. I have no clue what major events I’ll miss at “home” while I’m away.
What I do know is that I’m good at what I do, I can make a difference, and that I will be a success no matter where I end up, even if it means failing a few times along the way.
I’m not scared of failing anymore. Because, now I know failing does not make you a failure.
Do not let failure dictate your future choices.
- Roger Ehrenberg
Don’t let failure dictate your future choices… let it inspire them!
Reblogged from Startup Quote
This is an amazing video on the importance of failure, by Adam Savage. My favorite quote? “It’s important to be lonely and attentive when you fail, because that’s when the change in your character takes place.”
