In our society, so many people view failure as a horrible experience — an enormous detriment to their daily lives. But what if failure doesn’t have to be horrible? What if failure can actually be good for us?
The truth is that every obstacle we face can help us reach success in the long run. After all, we have to learn what doesn’t work in order to figure out what does, right?
Sometimes, when you’re starting something new, you won’t know which direction to go in.
If you find yourself in that situation, think of it like this: If an idea you have fails, it means you need to slow down, take a step back, and reassess. Maybe whatever you’re working on just needs tweaking, or maybe you need to go in a different direction altogether.
Regardless, if you’re willing to be honest with yourself and learn from your mistakes, you’ll eventually find your way.
1. Failure is actually a stepping stone to success
Look around the internet at the people you see who amassed a fortune doing what they love.
Every single one of them has experienced some form of failure to get to where they are now: Dave Matthews spent two years struggling to gain a following, numerous musicians you now know and love honed their craft with little to no money for years before they finally made it big, and many brilliant actresses have been turned down—over and over again—until they finally managed to break into the entertainment industry.
In other words? Failure is something everyone has in common.
One big difference between those who eventually win and those who don’t, though, is perseverance – figuring out what went wrong and being willing to change as needed.
The successful people you see who are earning millions per year living the life of their dreams had to hustle and struggle to get to where they are now. They had to understand what they were doing wrong in order to determine what they needed to change.
Because when you’re building something from scratch, it doesn’t come easy – that’s what makes success so exciting when you finally reach your goals.
So, if you’re not as successful as you want to be, no matter what success looks like for you, remember that it’s a journey. You can’t expect to succeed overnight, but you can expect to break through if you keep going and learn from your mistakes.
2. Success takes time
It takes an average of 3-5 years for most businesses to reach profitability, so don’t beat yourself up if the results you’re looking for have not yet become a reality.
You might spend longer than you anticipated working to earn a sufficient amount of income from your entrepreneurial endeavors, but that’s okay. Keep learning about your business and honing your skills. Chances are, it will all work out in the end.
If it’s any consolation, you’re definitely not alone: Starting a business isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you stay strong and never give up, the return on your investment could be massive.
3. Taking risks in life often leads to high rewards
I was recently reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, and one message struck me: Most people could get rich if they took a few more risks with their money. But instead, they allow fear to hold them back.
People amass wealth every day by putting their cash into assets such as stocks, bonds, wine, and real estate, even though the results are unpredictable.
If you’ve failed in the past, it can be easy to feel embarrassed: Maybe you think you should have prepared more. Sometimes, your pride might take a hit.
We all feel that way sometimes, but having the courage to do something that might fail is, in and of itself, a display of inner strength: Allowing yourself to make mistakes means you’re not afraid of trying new things and have the potential to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. That’s the important thing.
Remember: Failure is not the opposite of success: It’s simply part of the journey, so let yourself off the hook. You’ve got this.
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