Failure. The very word carries a weight of negativity and disappointment. Throughout our lives, we are conditioned to fear it, to avoid it at all costs. Yet, what if we were to challenge this conventional perspective?
What if we could see failure as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block?
I just wrote and recorded my first workshop, and it sucks.
Parts of it are good, I like the slides I made and the printables. I even like the sales page I created for this workshop.
But the recordings I made really sucked and I don’t feel like I can improve on them right now.
For many days I felt stuck and sad and unable to move on from it.
But then I remembered that I had promised myself to keep going anyway.
And that there is no such thing as failure, only an opportunity for growth.
Instead of labeling an outcome as a failure, we can view it as a valuable learning experience. Every setback provides us with an opportunity to gain insight, knowledge, and wisdom.
Maybe you too want to try something new and a bit scary, like learning a skill, finding a new job, growing a garden, starting a book club or a writing group.
You might be too scared to even start, because: what if you fail?
What if you aren’t good at it, if nobody shows up for your group or you won’t get on with each other? What if you make a fool of yourself by trying this new thing?
And of course, you don’t have to take action if you don’t want to.
But maybe you choose to take action and it doesn’t go as planned. Have you failed?
I don’t think so.
Making mistakes is an important part of learning and growing.
By trying one thing you gain a new perspective on the topic because now you have some experience with it.
Failure provides us with valuable insights into what went wrong and how we can improve.
You can use this information to brainstorm other approaches, and then go try something different. Keep trying until you find something that works.
By embracing this feedback loop, we can refine our strategies, adjust our approach, and increase our chances of success.
When I listened to my workshop recordings I was disappointed because they sounded too boring and unprofessional.
However, I had figured out how to record a webinar, which was a new experience for me.
After my first disappointment I decided look at what I could do next. I brainstormed some ideas:
- keep recording myself until I like it
- do a course on how to be in front of a camera
- no recording: turn the material into an eBook
- try video with music and text instead
- put it aside for a week and look at it again with fresh eyes, focus on something different for the time being
What about you, are you trying any scary new things these days? Do you agree or disagree that there is no such thing as failure?
Our Polytunnel and Garden in June