Tag Trying Again

Learning from Failure

Steve Keating Leave a comment

I am most certainly not a fan of failure. I have read a ton about failure and how beneficial failing can be. Things like, “failure shows you’re trying” and “failures are just stepping stones to success.”

Let’s be really clear about this absolute truth regarding failure… success beats failure every single day. If I’m succeeding then I don’t need to prove I’m trying. If I’m successful then I don’t need any damn stepping stones. I’ll just skip the stepping stones and make the leap to even greater success.

Given the choice, I’ll take succeeding over failing every chance I get.

But, no one succeeds all the time. Even people recognized as the best at what they do often endure frequent failures on their way to the top. Even at the top they continue to experience failure on occasion.

Ultimately, the difference between continual failure and eventual success comes down to learning from our failures. Learning from failure is a superpower that can help you grow, both personally and professionally. If you’re willing to learn from your failures, then you can make those failures temporary. If you’re not willing to learn from them, then buckle up because you’re in for a rough ride through life.

I’ll assume that you’re willing to learn from your failures and that being the case, here are some steps to help you make the most of setbacks and prevent them from becoming permanent failures.

1. Accept Failure: It’s a part of life, not a reflection of your worth. Don’t ignore it!

2. Analyze What Happened: Take a deep look and figure out what went wrong. Was it because you weren’t prepared, or was it something else?

3. Identify Key Lessons: Think about what you learned from the experience. Did you learn something about time management, resource allocation, or communication?

4. Adjust Your Approach: Use the lessons you learned to change your methods. Treat each attempt as a step forward, not an end.

5. Maintain a Growth Mindset: See failure as feedback. It’s not the opposite of success; it’s part of the journey. Stay persistent and keep going!

6. Take Responsibility Without Self-Blame: Own your part in the failure. Be kind to yourself and don’t be too hard on yourself.

7. Test and Experiment: Try again and see what works better. Use small experiments to test different approaches before committing fully.

8. Celebrate Progress: Celebrate even small steps forward to stay motivated. Appreciate the courage it takes to keep going, despite setbacks.

I can’t imagine failure ever being an enjoyable experience, but by using these ideas, failure can become a valuable learning experience that sets you up for greater success in the future.

Learning from failure is a choice, successful people make that choice; less successful people generally do not. Which one will you be?

Failure isn’t final… unless you allow it to be.

Steve Keating 2 Comments

There has been so much stuff written about failure that I hesitate to add to the pile. Motivational wisdom says that failure is part of success. Failing is a great way to learn. Failing just means you’re trying. It’s all great stuff.

Except, I’d prefer success without failure. I think there are more fun ways to learn than failing. And I’d especially hope people can tell I’m trying even if I’m not failing.

I do not like any part of failing, and I highly highly recommend you do everything you can to avoid it.

But, you knew there had to be a but, sooner or later you will fail. I know that because sooner or later, everyone fails. It’s my belief that it’s what happens after you “fail” that determines if it was really a failure. No matter how small the “failure” or how big, the simplest way to prevent it from really being a failure is to start again.

But starting over after a failure can be challenging. The good news is, it actually is also an opportunity for growth and improvement. I’m a big believer in the adage, “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” But I only believe that if your next try includes a better plan.

Here’s how to develop a better plan next time.

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

• Accept Your Emotions: It’s natural to feel disappointed, frustrated, or sad after a failure. Acknowledge these emotions rather than suppressing them. It’s even okay to be mad…for a short period of time.

• Reflect: Take some time to reflect on what happened. Understanding your feelings can help you process the experience and move forward.

2. Analyze the Failure

• Identify the Causes: Look at what went wrong. Was it a lack of preparation, a wrong strategy, or external factors?

• Learn from Mistakes: Identify lessons you can learn from the failure. Every setback has valuable insights that can prevent future failures.

3. Set New Goals

• Re-evaluate Your Objectives: Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. Break them down into smaller, more manageable steps.

• Be Specific: Define clear, specific goals. This helps you stay focused and motivated.

4. Develop a Plan

• Create a Strategy: Outline the steps you need to take to achieve your new goals. Include timelines and milestones.

• Seek Advice: Don’t hesitate to ask for help from mentors, friends, or professionals who can offer guidance and support.

5. Stay Positive

• Maintain a Positive Mindset: Cultivate optimism. Believe in your ability to succeed and view setbacks as temporary obstacles.

• Surround Yourself with Support: Engage with positive, supportive people who encourage you to keep going.

6. Take Action

• Start Small: Begin with small steps to build momentum and regain confidence.

• Be Consistent: Consistency is key. Keep working towards your goals, even when progress appears slow.

7. Monitor Your Progress

• Track Your Achievements: Keep a record of your accomplishments, no matter how small. This helps you stay motivated.

• Adjust as Needed: Be flexible and willing to adjust your plan if things aren’t working out as expected.

8. Celebrate Small Wins

• Acknowledge Progress: Celebrate your successes, no matter how minor. This reinforces your motivation and commitment.

• Reward Yourself: Give yourself rewards for achieving milestones. This can boost your morale and encourage you to keep going.

9. Keep Learning

• Continue Learning: Always look for opportunities to learn and grow. You can do it through reading, taking courses, or gaining new experiences. Continuous learning is crucial.

Starting over after a setback is a process that takes time and effort. But in many ways it’s true that those setbacks can make the ultimate success even sweeter. These nine ideas can turn what you thought was a failure into a stepping stone for future success.

So step forward, step up, and succeed!

If at First You Don’t Succeed….Quit!

Steve Keating 3 Comments

Yes, you read that right. I know the popular thinking says to try again but really, what’s the point. It’s terrible advice. Actually the popular thinking says to try and try again but that’s even worse advice.

 

If you want to succeed then stop when you fail. Stop until you can figure out a better plan and then and only then should you try again. It’s possible the failure was even caused by not having a plan at all. 

 

I know planning isn’t fun for most people but it is an essential part of all long-term success. Successful people know that they aren’t “spending” time when planning, they are “investing” time. 

 

Even when the plan fails they get a return on their investment. The return comes from being able to pinpoint the cause of the failure and build a better plan for their next attempt. 

 

Despite what you may have heard and despite what you may have been told, there is nothing wrong with quitting. It can actually be healthy just so long as you begin again. Sometimes the fastest way forward is to take a step or two backward so you can rethink and regroup. 

 

That rethinking MUST include revisiting your plan to determine what needs to change before you try again. Never mindlessly try again. Trying again while doing the same thing is terrible advice. At least have some idea what went wrong. Why it went wrong and what needs to change to eliminate the cause of that particular failure from happening again. 

 

You may not succeed with your next attempt but at least you will not fail for the same reason. Successful people call that progress!

 

Somebody smarter than me said “If you always do what you’ve always done then you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” I know that’s true. I learned the truth in that statement when I tried and tried again without stopping to rethink and regroup. 


Don’t make the same mistake. Fail and then quit. Quit long enough to consider why the failure happened. Consider also what needs to change to prevent it from happening again. Once you have a better plan then by all means possible begin again because success is often just one better plan away. 

Your Next Shot

Steve Keating 2 Comments

I’ve been blessed many times with the opportunity to visit The Pinehurst Resort. It is truly the golf Mecca of the United States and home of the world famous Pinehurst No. 2 golf course.

If you’re even a little into the game of golf you need to add a visit to Pinehurst to your bucket list and get yourself there very soon. The golf is world class, the food is to die for and the people, well the people who serve you at Pinehurst are the kind of people you would be friends with back home. There are few places like Pinehurst anywhere in the world.

But without question the centerpiece of Pinehurst is the golf course known as No. 2. It was designed in 1907 by the legendary Donald Ross.

Donald Ross designed No. 2 to mirror life, if you hit it straight you had a chance to succeed. If you hit in the the rough well things could literally be rough. You could drive the ball 250 yards but it would count for very little if you couldn’t navigate a 6 inch putt on the delicate and challenging greens. As in life, Mr. Ross wanted little things to matter on No. 2. But no matter what you did with your previous shot always there would be a chance at a better one next time, a recovery shot. Redemption! 

Whether in golf or life we always hope for something better the next time, even the most successful people sometimes need another chance to succeed. 

I’ve hit a lot of bad shots on No. 2, but I’ve hit some good ones too. Either way it’s the chance for another shot, a better shot next time which keeps me coming back for more. It’s really the next shot that truly matters. If it’s a better shot your back in the game, if it’s a worse shot you’re in trouble but still, you have a chance for a better shot next time. 

Life is like that except shots are called choices. We can get away with a bad one now and then but too many bad choices in a row can send us somewhere we don’t want to be. But the only way to recover from one bad choice or even a series of bad choices is to make another, better choice. Continual success does not come from effort, it comes from continual effort. Even if you’ve made ten good choices in a row your success only continues if you continue to make good choices. 

It’s the old “what have you done for me lately” cliché. Our success is determined in large part by the choices we’ve made lately. The fact that we may have been a success in the past does not necessarily mean we are still a success today. For me anyway success in far more about the journey than it is about the destination. (Maybe that’s because I’ve yet to “arrive.” 😉)

Some people like to rest on their laurels but successful people would tell you that laurels quickly become a pretty uncomfortable place to rest. Laurels in fact are where success goes to die.

So go ahead, make a bad shot, make a bad choice and then make some more. Some will be better than others, the true secret to success is to never stop trying. Most successful people indeed failed along the way. They didn’t succeed because all their choices were good, they succeeded because when one choice was bad they took the chance at making another one.