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> Creating Successful Small Businesses > Creating Successful Small Businesses Blog > Articles > Failing Forward - July 19, 2006
Failing Forward - July 19, 2006Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL if we could be "right" about everything we did? It would be amazing. We'd never stumble, fall, fail, or be wrong in any way!!!
I'd like to build a case for FAILURE being WONDERFUL. Let's see how I do....
There are two ways that you can react to failure, and I'll put it into these categories: GROW or SHRINK.
SHRINKING from failure is common. The pain that the person associates with that failure is just too great to move past, and they decide to not face that pain again.
GROWING from failure happens when someone experiences that pain and makes a decision - right then and there - to learn from the experience and make sure that it never happens again.
Here's a story of my own GROWTH after Failure:
I BOMBED speaking professionally in front of a large group in Boston. Halfway through the speech I prayed - absolutely prayed for a stroke/heart attack/brain aneurysm - ANYTHING that would stop the sheer terror I felt that day....
Details at some future date - when asked....
Here's what came out of that horrible day:
One new client who thought I was wonderful (amazing - right???).
I joined Toastmasters.
I joined the National Speakers Association
I read three books on professional speaking
I REALLY, REALLY advanced my skill set - in every way.
I learned EXACTLY why I failed that day and put procedures in place so that I would never fail (in that particular way) again.
I wrote a book called Seven Easy Steps to Great Business Presentations, which specifically helps business owners to speak publicly about their business.
Lesson Learned????
FAIL - AND FAIL FORWARD.....
Don't allow yourself to shrink from failure.
Use Failure to catapult you to the next level.
I'm Jerry Wistrom - SMALL BUSINESS MADE EASY...
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