The Failure Myth

I wrote this post for my Facebook friends a few weeks ago and it was well received. I hope some people here also find it useful.

My "big goal" that I mention in this post was to be able to work from home using Internet Marketing.

And here it is:

I just wanted to "quickly" say something on what I believe is a common misconception of what failure is and isn't. PLEASE read this if you have ever "failed" at something in your life.

On June 4, 2007, I set myself a goal. This was something really big, life changing, and according to most, completely unrealistic. I have lost count of the amount of times people have raised an eyebrow at my idea, told me it couldn't be done, told me to come back to reality, panicked and despaired over me thinking my goal was achievable, and the countless times I simply kept quiet because I knew what the reaction of people would be if I told them.

Now, let me tell you what failure is and isn't.

Since that date in 2007 until now in 2011, I have counted at least 23 times where I've tried my idea and majorly "failed"... the type of failure that will have your friends and family saying, "I told you so! Now be reasonable and do what everyone else is doing. Stop wasting your life on this." This does not include the countless, more minor "failures". I'm talking about months of working towards my goal only for it not to work.

If I gave up my dream and listened to everyone else... THAT is failure.
If I gave up after the first or second or tenth time my idea didn't work... THAT is failure.
If I got disheartened and stopped because I saw other people achieving what I wanted in mere months... THAT is failure.

Every time my idea didn't go according to plan, I became a little smarter. I learnt what does work and what doesn't. The moment my plan left me face planted in the dust, I picked myself up without a moment's hesitation and tried again.

To "fail" at something IS NOT failure! Did you know that most people who give up were only a step away from the finishing line and they didn't even realise it?! You absolutely cannot succeed without failing first. So-called "failing" is a part of succeeding, they go hand in hand.

Now when you were young, if you learnt how to walk on your first try, if you could read a whole book on your first try, if you learnt addition and subtraction on your first try, then this post isn't for you. I also highly doubt you exist. For everyone else, this post IS for you.

On attempt number 24, I am starting to see the success of my dream and it is wonderful. I finally got it. It works. Of course it works, I never thought otherwise for a second. Imagine if I gave up on try 23?

The second an ant's nest is destroyed, she has already begun rebuilding it. She could teach us something.