Failure: One Step Closer To Success

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Success is a wonderful thing. We all relish our achievements and we all look forward to the rewards that come with success.

But what happens when you’ve been giving it your all, and you’re not seeing any progress. You’ve reached the point where you’ve developed a twitch from constantly looking over your shoulder as you wait for that steamroller to catch up to you and run you into the ground. Now what? Is failure the next thing on your agenda?

Many people have a serious misconception when it comes to “failure” because they put negative labels on people they deem to have failed. It’s important to understand that any time we fail at something, whether it’s large or small, we are one step closer to success. Nothing ends in failure, if you don’t let it, and your attitude is what will lead you into turning failure into success.

Try to understand that failing at something is an event it’s not you. It doesn’t define you as a loser for the rest of your life, again, unless you let it. Failure is something that happens to you it isn’t who you are. You’re not a victim of failure. So when it happens, (as you know it will from time to time), then just pick yourself up and get ready for the next event in your life.

If you feel that failure is a negative event, adjust your attitude and you will see any failure as simply one necessary step that will eventually lead to success. People tend to rise to the level of their own expectations a self-fulfilling prophecy that determines, in a lot of ways, how much you get out of life. If you think your failure is the end of the line, then it is. If you think your failure will lead to success, then it will. Move on to the next step and keep on going. It’s really that simple.

Many of those who are considered to be successful have had many failures in their lives. Rush Limbaugh, the king of daytime talk radio, was fired multiple times from different radio jobs. He also filed for bankruptcytwice. So you can see how Limbaugh didn’t permit failure to define him. Those failures were events from which he recovered and moved on. You should take the same approach when confronted with something that didn’t turn out like you hoped it would.

You cannot assume you will always fail because you failed in the past. The history books are filled with stories about people who failed over and over again only to become world leaders.

Here is a perfect example:

1832 – Lost his job and defeated for state legislature.

1833 – Failed in business and went bankrupt.

1835 – His sweetheart died.

1836 – Had nervous breakdown.

1838 – Defeated for Speaker (State Government).

1843 – Defeated for nomination for Congress.

1848 – Lost re-nomination in Congress.

1849 – Rejected for land officer, a job he applied for.

1854 – Defeated for U.S. Senate.

1856 – Defeated for nomination for Vice President.

1858 – Again defeated for U.S. Senate.

1860 – Elected President of the United States of America.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered for his vital role as the leader in preserving the Union during the Civil War and beginning the process that led to the end of slavery in the United States. He is also remembered for his character, his speeches and letters, and as a man of very humble origins whose determination and perseverance led him to the nation’s highest office.

It’s not always easy to maintain a positive attitude when faced with the reality of failing at something that is important to you. But one of life’s very best lessons is how you deal with failure. No matter what the immediate repercussions are financial loss, loss of pride, not getting the promotion you were expecting, not making the team if you maintain the right attitude, you will see, in the long run, how failure is just the first step towards success.