Failing Forward

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 have failed by default.

J.K. Rowling

The reason we fear failure is usually that we think that’s the end. But, in reality, we can try again as many times as we need to. Our mindset plays a significant role. We can either tell ourselves to quit or we can tell ourselves that we deserve to try again.

When you take risks, you learn that there will be times when you succeed, and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.

Ellen DeGeneres

Failing is uncomfortable. It requires a pivot. It comes with uncertainty and doubt. It’s an experience we don’t want but is necessary for us to grow. When you’re in the thick of it, it can be difficult to see that things will in fact be better on the other side, but failure isn’t fatal and it’s not the end of your journey.

Failing is a required part of life. You can’t continue to learn if you’re unwilling to fail at things.

Our Founder, Erik Reagan

Things to NOT do when you fail:

• Negative self-talk
• Quitting what you were trying to accomplish
• Hiding behind the failure

Things to DO when you fail:

• Pause and reflect (What did you learn from this failure?)
• Decide to keep going
• Make a plan on how to do it differently next time
• Ask for help if you need it

And one final thought: Let’s consider failing as a payment towards success.

So, what do you do when you fail?

Think back to a time recently when you didn’t quite accomplish what you wanted. How did you respond? How did you speak to yourself about it? What action did you take afterward? All of this matters. It matters because your mindset is what will hold you back or move you forward.