Be a failure
Fear is an interesting emotion. It’s much more deceitful and sneaky than, say, happiness or sorrow or anger. When I’m happy, it’s pretty obvious. When I’m pissed off, it’s even more obvious. But often, I can go for long periods of time, completely unaware that my decisions are being driven, or at least influenced, by fear — whether as a father, a husband or as a business owner.
On its face, fear is neither good nor bad. It’s simply part of our biological makeup. It can be beneficial in that fear warns us of potential danger and is a key component of our self-preservation. Fear also serves as a reminder of the repercussions of our actions, causing us (ideally) to think before we act. However, if allowed to run wild, fear can also sabotage our long-success and stifle us. It can rob us of one of the most important experiences we stand to gain in life: failure.
I came across a great quote today that reminded me of this:
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” - Confucius
Managing fear of failure is crucial to running a successful business. On the one hand, acknowledging the ever-present potential of failure keeps you on your toes — aware, sharp and agile. It motivates you to plan and strategize. However, when the time comes, you must put “fear of failure” to death and commit yourself fully to your cause.
There’s a story I’ve shared with my team at Taproot Creative about jumping a bicycle ramp as a 9-year-old boy. It was a large ramp — too big for my age, in hind-sight — and narrow. I thought I had it all figured out. I was going to jump the ramp slowly and cautiously the first time, just make sure I could do it. This event was one of my earliest lessons in physics. I didn’t build enough speed… The front wheel came off the ramp and went straight down, the back wheel went straight up, and I sailed straight over the handlebars, ending up with a mouthful of gravel and dirt. The lesson: When fear of failure causes you to only partially commit, failure is guaranteed.
We forget that failure is just part of life. It’s how we learn. Don’t get me wrong, I hate failing and I hate losing. My staff can attest to this. I am fiercely competitive. But, earlier in my career as a designer, and now as president of an agency, I have to admit that most of my successes are due, at least in part, to previous failures.
So, as we enter a new year and folks are making resolutions, most of which will be dropped before spring, consider this: Commit yourself fully to whatever you have in front of you. Recognize that the potential for failure is a requirement if there’s to be an opportunity for success. Kick ass. Take names. And if you fall, rise.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
Great article Sean!