Fear of failure
Fear of failure can put an end to the best ideas. In today’s world, Fear of failure can put an end to the best ideas. In today’s world, being a ‘success’ is very highly regarded. People who have being a ‘success’ is very highly regarded. People who have high-paying jobs, big houses and nice cars are generally considered paying jobs, big houses and nice cars are generally considered successful. People who tried to start their own business but it successful. People who tried to start their own business but it didn’t work out are usually considered failures. But you can didn’t work out are usually considered failures. But you can appear to have all the modern trappings of
appear to have all the modern trappings of success and still not besuccess and still not be successful, and you can appear by
successful, and you can appear by conventional standardconventional standards to haves to have failed without having really done so. What
failed without having really done so. What do you think?do you think?
I consider people who have the courage to leave the security I consider people who have the courage to leave the security and comfort of a nine-to-five job and attempt to make it on their and comfort of a nine-to-five job and attempt to make it on their own a success. It doesn’t matter whether their idea panned out own a success. It doesn’t matter whether their idea panned out oror not — just trying
not — just trying makes them a success. Trying to make your ownmakes them a success. Trying to make your own way takes guts,
way takes guts, imagination, determination, willpowerimagination, determination, willpower, and , and effort.effort.
How can such a person be considered a failure?
How can such a person be considered a failure?
Would you rather have the high-paying job and nice car, but Would you rather have the high-paying job and nice car, but spend all your time thinking about your business idea? ‘If only I spend all your time thinking about your business idea? ‘If only I could leave this high-paying job and start riding a
could leave this high-paying job and start riding a skateboard, I coskateboard, I coulduld open up that cafe that cuts your hair while serving you coffee, open up that cafe that cuts your hair while serving you coffee, washing your car, doing your laundry and reading your stars.’
washing your car, doing your laundry and reading your stars.’
Well, if that’s your business idea — good luck! If your dream is to Well, if that’s your business idea — good luck! If your dream is to be an entrepreneur and you are not doing it, the job and the car be an entrepreneur and you are not doing it, the job and the car do not make you a success (even though people might see you do not make you a success (even though people might see you as one).
as one).
There’
There’s no such s no such thing as failurething as failure
To overcome a fear of failure, you must realise that there
To overcome a fear of failure, you must realise that there really isreally is no such thing as
no such thing as failurefailure. Success and failure are . Success and failure are merely perceptions.merely perceptions.
Something that might look like a failure at the moment is Something that might look like a failure at the moment is only another step towards your eventual success, or even the only another step towards your eventual success, or even the success itself.
success itself.
Take the story of the now famous and hugely successful Take the story of the now famous and hugely successful Post-it note. The adhesive used in Post-Post-it notes was invented in 1968 it note. The adhesive used in Post-it notes was invented in 1968 by 3M research scientist, Dr Spence Silver. He was attempting to by 3M research scientist, Dr Spence Silver. He was attempting to design a strong adhesive, but he actually ‘failed’ and the adhesive design a strong adhesive, but he actually ‘failed’ and the adhesive he developed was very weak. Dr
he developed was very weak. Dr Silver tried unsuccessfully for fiveSilver tried unsuccessfully for five
How to turn your million-dollar idea into a reality How to turn your million-dollar idea into a reality
12 12
years to find a
years to find a use for his use for his new adhesive. Arthur Frynew adhesive. Arthur Fry, a new-product, a new-product development researcher, attended one of Silver’s seminars, and he development researcher, attended one of Silver’s seminars, and he was intrigued by the strange adhesive. During his spare time Fry was intrigued by the strange adhesive. During his spare time Fry sang in a church choir, and it annoyed him that the bookmark sang in a church choir, and it annoyed him that the bookmark in his hymn book would always fall out when he stood up to in his hymn book would always fall out when he stood up to sing. One day he realised that he had found the perfect use for Dr sing. One day he realised that he had found the perfect use for Dr Silver’s glue — it could be used to make a bookmark!
Silver’s glue — it could be used to make a bookmark!
The original Post-it notes were used as bookmarks, and the The original Post-it notes were used as bookmarks, and the remainder was shown to the 3M marketing department, but they remainder was shown to the 3M marketing department, but they rejected them as useless (a failure). Fry
rejected them as useless (a failure). Fry gave them to his secretarygave them to his secretary to dispose of, but she instead found what is now the classic use to dispose of, but she instead found what is now the classic use for them. Fry told her to distribute the remaining notes to all the for them. Fry told her to distribute the remaining notes to all the executive secretaries in the 3M offices. When they ran out, she was executive secretaries in the 3M offices. When they ran out, she was inundated with calls for more. These calls were passed on to the inundated with calls for more. These calls were passed on to the marketing department, who finally got the idea. Initial prototypes marketing department, who finally got the idea. Initial prototypes were available in 1977 and by 1981,
were available in 1977 and by 1981, after a large sampling campaign,after a large sampling campaign, the product had been introduced around the world.
the product had been introduced around the world.
Everyone now knows of and uses
Everyone now knows of and uses Post-it notes. This is a classicPost-it notes. This is a classic tale of a failure turned into a success. Post-it notes have been tale of a failure turned into a success. Post-it notes have been developed in a range of colours and designs for a variety of uses, developed in a range of colours and designs for a variety of uses, and they can be found in offices, schools and homes all around and they can be found in offices, schools and homes all around the world.
the world.
Nev Bray
Nev Bray, from one of Melbou, from one of Melbourne’s leading building comparne’s leading building companies,nies, Bray Constructions, tells a story of f
Bray Constructions, tells a story of failing to win a job with a ailing to win a job with a client,client, but due to the way he conducted himself with the prospect, he but due to the way he conducted himself with the prospect, he can now attribute over $1.5 million worth of
can now attribute over $1.5 million worth of work directly to thework directly to the client and their referrals. So he didn’t get the job
client and their referrals. So he didn’t get the job he was after, buthe was after, but he did get other work as a
he did get other work as a result of quoting for this client.result of quoting for this client.
I have not failed. I’ve just
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10 0found 10 000 ways that won’t work.00 ways that won’t work.
Thomas Edison Thomas Edison
As an entrepreneur, you are bound to venture into areas that As an entrepreneur, you are bound to venture into areas that are new to you. How can you not make some mistakes along are new to you. How can you not make some mistakes along the way, no matter how well prepared you are and how hard the way, no matter how well prepared you are and how hard you work? It could even be suggested that if you don’t make the you work? It could even be suggested that if you don’t make the occasional mistake, you are not being adventurous enough in your occasional mistake, you are not being adventurous enough in your
From imagination to fearlessness From imagination to fearlessness
business strategy. Taking calculated risks can be part of creating a business strategy. Taking calculated risks can be part of creating a successful business.
successful business.
The nature of all human advancement, both great and small, The nature of all human advancement, both great and small, is that we learn as much from our mistakes as we do from our is that we learn as much from our mistakes as we do from our successes into problems. Thomas Edison, for into problems. Thomas Edison, for example, conducted thousands of example, conducted thousands of unsuccessful experiments before experiment is a success. Does this mean the earlier experiments experiment is a success. Does this mean the earlier experiments were failures? No, it’
were failures? No, it’s just part s just part of the process. No of the process. No scientist expectsscientist expects to reach a final
to reach a final outcome after only one experiment.outcome after only one experiment.
Being an entrepreneur or a business person is no different — Being an entrepreneur or a business person is no different — when you run into difficulties, fix them, learn from them and when you run into difficulties, fix them, learn from them and move on. Even a complete business collapse can teach valuable move on. Even a complete business collapse can teach valuable lessons for future success. Many successful businesspeople have lessons for future success. Many successful businesspeople have previously started or run businesses that
previously started or run businesses that didn’t do well.didn’t do well.
Failure is only the
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more opportunity to begin again more intelligentlyintelligently..
Henry Ford Henry Ford Some people who
Some people who don’t know how to don’t know how to fail fail ……
Let’s have a look at a few people who refused to accept that they Let’s have a look at a few people who refused to accept that they had failed.
had failed.
As a basketball fan, I’m going to start with Michael Jordan.
As a basketball fan, I’m going to start with Michael Jordan.
Jordan is today generally considered the best basketball player Jordan is today generally considered the best basketball player ever to step onto a court. He won six championships with the ever to step onto a court. He won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, five league most
Chicago Bulls, five league most valuable player awards, numerousvaluable player awards, numerous Pete’s tip:
How to turn your million-dollar idea into a reality How to turn your million-dollar idea into a reality
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scoring titles — you name it, he won it. So what’s he doing here?
scoring titles — you name it, he won it. So what’s he doing here?
In high school Michael Jordan was
In high school Michael Jordan was cut from the school basketballcut from the school basketball team. Was he a failure when this happened? Of course not. He team. Was he a failure when this happened? Of course not. He just hadn’t reached his goal yet. He later said: ‘Whenever I was just hadn’t reached his goal yet. He later said: ‘Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it’.
on it’.
Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.
Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.
Winston Churchill Winston Churchill
Australian author Matthew Reilly had his first novel
Australian author Matthew Reilly had his first novel ContestContest rejected by every major publisher in the country. Undefeated, he rejected by every major publisher in the country. Undefeated, he decided to publish the book himself. He paid for 1000 copies to decided to publish the book himself. He paid for 1000 copies to be produced, and sold them to bookshops one store at a
be produced, and sold them to bookshops one store at a time. Antime. An editor from one of
editor from one of Australia’Australia’s major publishers bought s major publishers bought one of theseone of these copies, and she loved it. She tracked Matthew down and signed copies, and she loved it. She tracked Matthew down and signed him up. Matthew has gone on to be an internationally successful him up. Matthew has gone on to be an internationally successful author
author, with his books , with his books on bestseller lists all around the on bestseller lists all around the world.world.
Have you read the novel
Have you read the novel Catch-22Catch-22 by Joseph Heller? It is aby Joseph Heller? It is a literary classic, and spawned the now-common phrase ‘catch literary classic, and spawned the now-common phrase ‘catch 22’. Why was it called
22’. Why was it called Catch-22Catch-22? Because it was rejected by 21? Because it was rejected by 21 publishers. It has now sold millions of copies and was turned publishers. It has now sold millions of copies and was turned into a movie. Imagine if Heller had stopped after receiving the into a movie. Imagine if Heller had stopped after receiving the twenty-first rejection
twenty-first rejection letter letter …… Chicken Soup for the Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul is a book of ‘powerful tales of is a book of ‘powerful tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things’. It was rejected by ordinary people doing extraordinary things’. It was rejected by 140 publishers! Even the book’s agent gave up on it. But authors 140 publishers! Even the book’s agent gave up on it. But authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen believed in their b
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen believed in their b ook, andook, and kept going. They eventually found a publisher, and went on to kept going. They eventually found a publisher, and went on to sell millions of books. Canfield and Hansen are now among the sell millions of books. Canfield and Hansen are now among the best-selling business authors of all time.
best-selling business authors of all time.
When Sylvester Stallone finished writing the screenplay for When Sylvester Stallone finished writing the screenplay for Rocky
Rocky, he tried to sell , he tried to sell it with himself playing the lead role. He wasit with himself playing the lead role. He was unknown at the time, and some studios were interested in the film unknown at the time, and some studios were interested in the film but would not allow Stallone to act in it. But Stallone held out, but would not allow Stallone to act in it. But Stallone held out, and eventually went on to play the boxer in
and eventually went on to play the boxer in the role that launchedthe role that launched his career.
his career.
From imagination to fearlessness From imagination to fearlessness
One of the greatest presidents in American history had plenty One of the greatest presidents in American history had plenty of chances to be
of chances to be considered a failure, but he wouldn’t accept this.considered a failure, but he wouldn’t accept this.
Let’s see what happened to him:
Let’s see what happened to him:
born into poverty in 1809 born into poverty in 1809 failed in business in 1831 failed in business in 1831
ran for the state legislature and lost in 1832 ran for the state legislature and lost in 1832
failed in business again in 1833, and lost money that he had failed in business again in 1833, and lost money that he had borrowed from friends
borrowed from friends
had a nervous breakdown in 1836 had a nervous breakdown in 1836
was defeated when running for speaker in 1838 was defeated when running for speaker in 1838 was defeated when running for elector in 1840 was defeated when running for elector in 1840 was defeated running for congress in 1843 and 1848 was defeated running for congress in 1843 and 1848 was defeated running for senate in 1854 and 185 was defeated running for senate in 1854 and 18588 was defeated running for vice president in 1856.
was defeated running for vice president in 1856.
Who was this? Abraham Lincoln. Maybe the fact that he had Who was this? Abraham Lincoln. Maybe the fact that he had endured such a hard road to get to the presidency made him so endured such a hard road to get to the presidency made him so good at the job when he finally got there.
good at the job when he finally got there.
These are just a few
These are just a few examples of rejections or setbacks — whichexamples of rejections or setbacks — which could have been perceived as ‘failures’ at the time — leading to could have been perceived as ‘failures’ at the time — leading to outstanding success. There are thousands of these stories, and outstanding success. There are thousands of these stories, and more are being written every day. Maybe you know somebody like more are being written every day. Maybe you know somebody like this.
this.
Never confuse a single defeat with a
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.final defeat.
F Scott Fitzgerald F Scott Fitzgerald As you can see, overcoming obstacles is a vital ingredient for As you can see, overcoming obstacles is a vital ingredient for many successful people from all walks of life. They overcome many successful people from all walks of life. They overcome
F Scott Fitzgerald F Scott Fitzgerald As you can see, overcoming obstacles is a vital ingredient for As you can see, overcoming obstacles is a vital ingredient for many successful people from all walks of life. They overcome many successful people from all walks of life. They overcome