Make Mistakes

"If I had to live my life over again, I’d make all the same mistakes - only sooner.”     ~ Tallulah Bankhead

We highly recommend the book Failing Forward by John Maxwell.   The book opens with the question "Are your failures holding you back or pulling you forward?"   Maxwell goes on to say that those who succeed are not determined by family background, wealth, opportunity, high morals, or the absence of hardship..."the difference between average people and achieving people is their response to failure."

So, why are we so afraid to fail and to make mistakes?  Many people say that this begins as an infant...that the fear of failing actually begins as a fear of falling... an innate fear that is instilled in us at birth as a means of protection from harm.   At some point in our lives, this fear of falling becomes distorted, and we are afraid if we fail, we will fall.  The fear of success plays into this fear of falling as well.  If we reach a certain level of success, and we do not move higher, we will fall...and it will be painful.

Thomas Alva Edison was born into a world without telephones, musical tapes, movies, indoor electrical light, or trolleys. By the end of his life, he had helped make these inventions a part of our world today. In his life, he applied for 1,093 different patents. In one year he applied for 400 patents, more than one a day.  He once said, "I never quit until I get what I'm after. Negative results are just what I'm after. They are just as valuable to me as positive results."

Exercise:

1.  List some of the mistakes you've made in your life along with what you learned as a result:

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    e.

2.  Determine 3 actions that you've been avoiding because you are afraid of failing.  Do them any way!

    a.

    b.

    c.

3.  Perfectionism can get in the way of marketing or building a successful business. It can prevent us from moving ahead quickly or from taking advantage of business opportunities.

We set ourselves up with unrealistic expectations or goals, which can be damaging to us personally or professionally. Striving for perfection can damage our self-esteem because we never feel like we are good enough.

Instead, consider adopting an attitude of striving for excellence. Look at failure as just another teacher in the "school of life".  The reality is that with almost any project there is "just one more thing" that can be done.  But the question is, "Will it really make a significant difference?"  If the answer is "no" then move on and begin to tackle your next project

Mistakes and failures happen.  They are a part of life.  As a business owner, both you and your client will experience mistakes, both large and small.  By greeting mistakes and failures with responsibility and a positive attitude, you will learn and grow in the process, and you will be a stronger business owner in the end.

Make your mistakes early and often.  If you do, you’ll learn more quickly!