What is Failure Anyway?

Does it surprise you that only 400 cokes were sold the first year; Albert Einstein's Ph.D. dissertation was rejected; Henry Ford had two bankruptcies before his famous success; or Ulysses S. Grant was working as a handyman, written off as a failure, eight years before becoming President of the United States?

Rodin couldn't get into art school on three occasions yet became a great sculptor; Abraham Lincoln lost seven elections before winning the Presidency; Babe Ruth stuck out 1,330 times in route to hitting 714 home runs; and Oprah Winfrey publicly failed several diet attempts before becoming an inspiration for looking great after fifty.

Setbacks, disappoints, rejections and unsuccessful attempts were not failures to these people. They were steps to their success. That's the difference between people who are winning at working and people who aren't. How you deal with your setbacks (big or small) will determine your results. You see, failure is not the lack of success. Failure is staying down when you trip or stumble. It's giving up, checking out, or shutting down.

I wasn't a failure when I was fired from my first professional job, although for awhile I felt like one, and I could have been if I'd lost my confidence and given up on my career aspirations. I wasn't a failure when I was passed over for a coveted promotion I'd worked years for, but I could have been if I'd let that setback determine my future. And I wasn't a failure every time I pitched an idea that got turned down, but I could have been if I'd stopped pitching ideas.

You see, in twenty years in management, for every "yes" I've gotten in my career that's visible, there's least five "no's" that aren't. For every success I've achieved, there's at least as many misses. Yet when we look at other people's successes, we miss the struggles, frustrations and disappointments that came before them, so we think their success was easy.

How you view your disappointments, falls, and setbacks will impact your success. Do you see them as stepping stones or brick walls? People who are winning at working live Ralph Waldo Emerson's words, "Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories."

People who are winning at working don't blame others for what's happened to them, and they don't use other people's definitions for success and failure. They use their own. They know it's not failing to miss their mark, change paths, re-assess goals, try something new or adjust direction. To them, failure happens when they stop trying to achieve their personal best.

(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan's free biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and instructor. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com.

---

People Are Who They Want To Be

Choice isn't always a matter of being able to choose... Read More

How Important is Your Lemonade Stand?

When my neighbor's child was about 8, he decided that... Read More

Ever Find Yourself Saying I Want My Instant Money Now?

If that sounds like you, you're not alone. Everyone needs... Read More

Believing in a Better Lifestyle

How many of you have ever thought about the link... Read More

Five Tips for Perfect Transition Decisions

You're considering a new career, new place to live or... Read More

Freedom, the Foundation of Your Desires

Freedom is the deeper meaning, the foundation behind all of... Read More

Are You Afraid of Success?

You may not realise it yet but you may have... Read More

Skills or Beliefs: Which Matters Most to Your Business?

Skills or beliefs; this may well be another example of... Read More

Being a Winner - Ten Tips for Success

Have you ever thought about how you want to live,... Read More

Can You Think Your Way To Riches?

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

Finding Your Purpose

What is success? As author and speaker Earl Nightingale said,... Read More

Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Recently I stumbled across a list of Microsoft Interview questions... Read More

Career Management and Life Planning Tools: Eight Powerful Questions About Your Future

"Most people don't plan to fail. They just fail to... Read More

Psychological Tips For Effective Examination Techniques

One of the inevitabilities of University life is the examination.... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Review and Refine

Periodically re-check and refine (or redefine) your goals It's no... Read More

5 Key Ingredients of Business Success

What do you need to have for a successful business?... Read More

Success Formula Revealed - How You Can Apply The Ultimate Success Formula?

When you analyze the traits of successful people, you will... Read More

Is Success About Money?

Success could be just about making money, but I think... Read More

Opening Your Unlimited Potential

It is high time you know the truth about yourselves.... Read More

Setting Yourself Up For Success

Most people want to be successful in life. But success... Read More

Obstacles to Success. Why Dont I Believe In Myself and What Can I Do About It?

Why do so many of us lack belief in ourselves?... Read More

Your Success

Success starts in your mind. Positive Thinking creates the advantage.Success... Read More

How to Succeed for the Rest of Your Life

I spoke recently with the owner of a large clothing... Read More

Motivation By Desire

Many of us have lost sight of what we really... Read More

How to Make Success a Habit

Want to make success a habit in your life? If... Read More

Advance Your Enthusiasm and Determination for Success

Imagine being firmly committed to your deepest ambitions. Imagine feeling... Read More

Defining Success

I'll be the first to admit that everyone has his... Read More

7 Ways to improve Your Listening Skills

Do you know how much time do you spend listening?... Read More

Expectations

I'll let you in on a little secret...life delivers pretty... Read More

Shortest Path To Success!

Thoughts move faster than the speed of light.Expectations jump faster... Read More

True Success is Generous

"Write checks on a regular basis to those who you... Read More

If You Compare, Beware!

Picture this scene: Little Johnny's mother places a large piece... Read More

4 Scientific Strategies to Become Brilliant At Anything

In this brief article we will explore four methods that... Read More