What does Failure mean to you?

Failure as a subject matter is quite controversial for diverse reasons. In the contemporary world the process of failing is always associated with the negative. A child fails in school his parents spanks him/her first before any other thing because their understanding of failure has always been flawed – what the child’s parents do not realise is that certain factors may have resulted to the child’s poor results which if corrected the same child will do exceptionally well.

Some kids grow up and become  successful enterpreneurs and some don’t. Sometime, I say to people failure is my friend or that it is good to fail and they look at me with amazement – how can one say that it is good to fail? In a region where spirituality has been confused with basic principles of living, failing is often associated with the negative and it is so because we grew up learning that the act of failing is an event rather than a process that is normal in life.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you should go out there and fail knowingly – No! what I am saying is that in the process of accomplishing your dreams certain challenges will come up that will make you assume you are a failure . Therefore, I urge you to empty your cup and allow for a fresh understanding of the process of failing, because failing is indeed good for you.

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Failure means not being successful.

In order to fully grasp this definition, let us look up for the  meaning of the word ‘successful’ and it simply says; achieving your aims.

Look closely at the above definitions and you will learn that failure is a process and how you handle it is what makes all the difference. The definition of failure does not say being forever unsuccessful, it simply says not being successful and analysing it a bit further confirms that even if you are having challenges today, it is possible that you can become successful given different conditions while the other person who has been successful can also experience the process of failing as well. My intention is that you begin to see  failing with a different mindset, totally different from what you grew with. The act of failing or succeeding is simply a process and not an event as you may have been told over the years.

Below are three statements I urge you to master regarding the subject matter of failure because they may prove yourself as you work out your life’s purpose. They are simply put;

FAILURE is NOT

1. Final
2. Irreversible
3. The Enemy

Recite these statements as often as you can and it will help you whenever you face any challenge that makes you think you are a failure. The attitude you choose to put up when life throws stones at you is what determines the outcome and also if the experience is the end of your dreams or the beginning of a new chapter in the pursuit of your goals in life.

Personally, I have learnt a lot whenever I go through the process of failing and this is something I have learned to be proud of – the last one occurred late last year, I saw one of my businesses crumble and it took with it my hard earned cash running into millions, well I learnt a lot from that particular episode. For some people that may be the end of their quest for a better future but for me  it was a new beginning because I saw a business opportunity to change what was not working.

So my friend, failure is good, it is only a process and not an event. I leave you with this timeless Thomas A. Edison’s quote —

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Remain positive and do not be afraid of failure.