When Failure is a Gift

I wanted, for many many years, to be a mystery writer. Finally I wrote a mystery novel. I got a best-selling novelist to be my mentor and help me with the rewrite. I got an agent. They sent the book out. And sent it out. And sent it out. And it went nowhere.

I tried writing another book, and my mentor told me to dump it and start a third book. I did, but couldn't get into the idea and the book never materialized.

Which is all okay, because today I'm a life coach, something I've wanted to do for a long time and which allows me time to write if I want to, and I never would have gotten here if that book had been published.

You see, I can write part-time while I coach as a profession, but if that first book had been published, I would have seen myself as a mystery writer and nothing else. That's the mindset I had at the time-"I'm going to be a mystery writer full-time."

Now, having failed at something important to me, I realize that I don't have to do only one thing. I don't even have to do anything for the rest of my life. I may coach for five years and say, "I'm done."

What my failure as a mystery writer taught me is that I have choices about what I do, and I'm never locked into any one thing. That was a gift I could never pay for or find anywhere else.

About The Author

Angie Dixon helps small business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how coaching can change your life, contact Angie at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.

You are free to use this article in ezines, web sites and print publications. If you do use it, please send a quick email to mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com. Thank you.

---

A Lifetime In Love

We let ourselves love but are afraid to say I... Read More

Making the Most of Your Peak and Off-peak Times

What is the most essential part of your business? You... Read More

Game-Set-Match

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 21,... Read More

True Inner Guidance

It's easy to tell the difference between true inner guidance... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Retire Retirement

1. Retire the word "retirement" from your vocabulary. Look it... Read More

Victory is an Accomplishment

Did you ever watch a bird in flight? Especially ducks... Read More

On Sunsets and Telecom

Another perfect sunset seen from Redondo Beach, California. Since arriving... Read More

Faux Feelings

Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 10,... Read More

The Meaning of Life - Not Just Another Dust in the Wind Theory

I grew up in the south in the 1960's. Married... Read More

Giving Can Overcome Language Differences

I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It... Read More

Never Too Busy to Listen

Are things busy at your house or workplace? Imagine how... Read More

Why You Are Special and Why Does It Matter

Why 'you are special'?Why and how does it matter?Things you... Read More

Naomi and the 5 Life Lessons

Not long ago, I attended a seminar that featured Naomi... Read More

Misery Can Eat You Alive

This is a true story about a woman I worked... Read More

From The Ashes

The man plopped down on his chair, defeated.His father's maxims... Read More

Problems Arent Bad After all!

At first glance, when tough times hit, it seems the... Read More

My name is Smarty Jones -- Embracing Gods Glory

Our deepest fear us not that we are inadequate. Our... Read More

Have You Voted Today

Huh? You're probably wondering when this article was written, and... Read More

Embracing Your Wildness

As small children, we were all wild. Not unlike the... Read More

Joy in Perseverance

I will persist until I succeed. Always will I take... Read More

Beauty, Gratitude, and the Open Heart

"?beauty on your earth is a shadow of the beauty... Read More

Encouragement--Heart At Work

Encouragement can have a very powerful effect on bosses and... Read More

Self Help When Youre In Debt

It's no fun being in debt.Money shortages are always stressful... Read More

Information -- Schminformation, Enough Already!

We are drowning in it, our grey matter is swollen... Read More

Begin With the End In Mind - Tips to Make Your Life More Meaningful

What would you change if you knew you would be... Read More

A Life Time of Strategic Thinking

You may be one of the thousands who think "Strategic... Read More

One Woman?s Story of How Her Smile Increased Her Confidence

For one who takes pride in being involved with different... Read More

Life is About Choosing

Back to our youth days, we were taught that by... Read More

Charge Your Imagination (3)

As we progress into the year, it is necessary for... Read More

Trust Yourself ? The Hero?s Way!

Buying a VCR may not seem like a noteworthy purchase... Read More

Increase Awareness With One Simple Question

There are many ways we can increase our own personal... Read More

One Woman, One Leg, No Job

What is social acceptance? Why is it so important? What... Read More

Unconditional Love is Absolute Freedom to Screw Up Your Life

In my lifetime, I have never witnessed enduring unconditional love... Read More