Failure IS an option.

I wrote an article on this very subject, with the same title a few years ago. And? it was a pretty decent article if I do say so myself!

Then I lost it. Gone. Deleted in error with no backup!

Talk about 'ironic'??..

Well, moving forward (hint) - over the years I have come into contact with a vast array of different people from all walks of life. Some extremely rich, then those quite the opposite. Some very well-known - others who will never want their '15 minutes of fame'.

Business people, colleagues, employees, friends?? the list goes on and on.

They ALL (just like you and me) have one thing in common. Failure.

Yep - we are ALL failures at something. Or we have all failed at one to or another?.. And it's more than likely we will all fail again at something.

Hands up all of you who have NEVER failed at ANYTHING?

Relationships, work / employment, exams, dieting, keep fit & exercise, decorating, gardening, keeping pets, D.I.Y., money, puzzles, competitions, cooking, gambling, auditions, interviews?and just about everything!

It doesn't have to be a massive 'failure' - sometimes these do happen, but anything which goes wrong, you mess up, you can't do?.. Is failure.

Most marriages end up in divorce. Most new small-businesses in the real world, collapse within their first two years. Most people trying to make money on the internet - don't.

The KEY here, is what you do when it happens? How do you deal with it? What happens next?

The solution is a simple formula I have been telling people for years. Whether it's friends, clients, staff, peers??. Whether I do it as part of a motivational course, or just straight-forward advice?. The formula is exactly the same.

How you apply the formula can vary from 'Passive Pre-Event Style'?. up to 'Aggressive Post-Event Style.

What am I talking about?

It's like flicking a switch inside you?? from the passive ' I know all the steps'?? to the more aggressive ' I've GOTTA DO IT NOW?.'

Have you ever seen the classic comedy film 'Airplane' ?

The Cabin Crew carefully explained all the safety procedures to the passengers. But when 'disaster strikes' - all hell breaks loose! Everyone panics! All the instructions go out the window!

OK - it was a movie. But the similarities to real-life are commonplace.

We often know what we SHOULD DO - but we find excuses to ignore it. If you simply 'give up' and do nothing - what are you expecting as a result?

"It wasn't my fault?." ? maybe it wasn't.
"The system doesn't work"?.. So what?
"Someone told me to do it"?.. and if they told you to jump off a cliff?
"The computer made a mistake"?? oh really?!
"Someone criticised me"?? Get over it.
"I'm just not good enough"?? Choose not to be.

OK - time for a few sayings??.. And hey!? these weren't written by someone for no reason!

'Try?..try?..and try again.'

'If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always had'.

I really like that last one - perhaps the 'exact' wording is slightly wrong, but the underlying meaning in rock-solid (and it may take a minute or two understand where it's going).

If you prefer to make excuses and simply quit - fair enough. Your choice. But if you simply aren't happy with this option?.. Then there are 3 main stages you must address.

Firstly, you have to simply accept it. Admit to yourself that you have failed. Sounds easy doesn't it? But in reality it can be far harder than you think.

This part is vital because it can mean a change in attitude. YOURS. Stop blaming others, making excuses and simply giving up. This can be a major change in mind-set, but is important before you can go to the next step. Accept that 'it' hasn't worked. 'It' went wrong. 'It' is a dead-end. Don't personalise / humanise it. The 'acceptance' stage normally cannot be successful until the initial anger of the failure has subsided.

Next - another key step is to Learn from it.

Analyse the situation. Review what happened. Make notes. Discuss it with people / friends / colleagues?. But do so clearly and with an open-mind. Try to develop new methods, routines, rules?. which will avoid a recurrence of what happened last time.

Note - if during the 'learning' stage, you start to point the finger at others, or blame the system etc., this means you haven't successfully passed the first stage - Acceptance.

Once you have learned from it - the final stage is simple. MOVE ON. Move forward - don't keep looking back, don't let things hold you back. Because once you have accepted it, learned from it - then nothing should be able to hold you back. Take what you have learned, apply it, use it - get on with it!

A little warning here. Sometimes it simply won't work. You will get through the stages, do everything right - only to fail again. If this happens, just go back to step 2 - and start again.

Remember one of those sayings earlier? ?.. Try, try and try again.

SO, the formula is simply.

F + A + L + M.

Fail.
Accept it.
Learn from it.
Move on.

You can use your own variant to suit your needs. And this applies to business (both online and offline), plus everything in life.

However, do you remember the second 'saying' from earlier on? 'If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always had'.

Successful people - whether they are millionaire business people, or perhaps those who seem to be 'lucky in love', to people who overcome adversity, injury, accident or disability -all have one thing in common.

They don't quit when the going gets tough.
They accept, learn and move on from failure.

There is a phrase?. 'Failure is not an option'.

I disagree. Failure isn't something you should strive for (obviously) but if you know how to deal with it when it arises, then it's not necessarily the end of the World!

An article by Gary Durkin, Founder of the Internet Advice Center®
http://www.InternetAdviceCenter.com

Gary has more than a decade of offline international business success behind him, controlling millions of dollars of global investments each day and has been doing business online for 6 years.

If you would like to join thousands of subscribers to his newsletter 'Delivering Success' - send a blank email to deliveringsuccess@kioskcities.ws

© Copyright 2005 - All Rights Reserved worldwide.

You are free to distribute this article, providing it remains unchanged and with the resource / bio box attached.

---

How To Create What You Want...And Want What You Create

Something For You To Consider?How To Create What You Want... Read More

Set Yourself Up For Success

I receive several emails every week asking me about how... Read More

How The Right Questions Can Change Your Life

Your own pressing needs, your long-standing frustrations, would benefit tremendously... Read More

Do You Need to Have a High IQ to Be Successful? Does an Average IQ Mean Youll Be Average?

You have probably heard the term "IQ" many times, and... Read More

Do You Deserve Success?

Deep down, where it counts, many people do not believe... Read More

The 8th Habit Covey Forgot - The Making of an Expert!

I could labor the idea but then that would only... Read More

Discover Your Path to Success ? Part 4

In Part Three, I promised we would get into the... Read More

Super Achievers Have: Talent, Skill, Patience, and Lady Luck!

As a golfer and coach, I've been thrilled to watch... Read More

Success is a 6 Letter Word

Let me ask you a question? What must happen for... Read More

Manifest Away

The sun crept over the horizon and lodged itself above... Read More

Take Yourself to the Top!

Everybody wants to get to the top, whether it is... Read More

Fallen Ladders Dont Matter

We own a home on the island of Puerto Rico... Read More

Top Ten Success Strategies

1. Believe in yourself and what it is you do.... Read More

Youve Got To Find Passion In It

People often ask me, "Josh, if you had one bit... Read More

The Power Of Language: How To Language Your Future

Imagine living in the world that Helen Keller found herself... Read More

Do You Know Whats The #1 Success Secret Is?

How many people do you hear complaining about their job,... Read More

Why Questions are so Important for Self Improvement and Success

Asking questions is one of the most basic ways that... Read More

Overnight Success - the Truth is Revealed

Overnight success seems to be happening to a lot of... Read More

Emerging As Winners!

People like to emerge as winners by hook or crook... Read More

Staying Cool When the Job Heats Up

Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of... Read More

The Psychology Of Success; Part 1

Business knowledge and skills are not the only keys to... Read More

True Success

I did it my way -Frank SinatraWhat is a successful... Read More

An Honest Commitment To Action Is Key To Your Success

With topics in personal development ranging from goal setting to... Read More

Taking Responsibility

Everything you are or ever will be is completely up... Read More

Gratitude, Faith, and Clarity of Purpose -- The Most Powerful Statement

"Things might have been worse"This is the most powerful, dynamic,... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Get Your Act Together

Get your act together Make sure that you have all... Read More

For Meeting Planners: Organizing Your Office for Less Stress and More Profit

If you discovered your speaking career depended on how organized... Read More

10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace - Wayne Dyer Book Mini-Review

Dr. Wayne Dyer published his best-selling book, "10 Secrets for... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Start A Round Robin

Start a "round robin" goal letter with others who need... Read More

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

"The reason man may become the master of his own... Read More

Can You Think Your Way To Riches?

I am going to tell you something you already know... Read More

Clues for Success: Finding Answers Right in Front of Your Face

An old fable tells about a religious man and a... Read More

The Bubble Of Prosperity

My life is a bubble; but how much solid cash... Read More