Failure: It happens ... How do you handle it?

I usually spend a few days trying to figure out what went wrong, and then I might be gun shy for a little while (depends on the project and how much money I have to afford me that luxury) , then I realize that crying doesnt move anything and that the only way success is going to happen is if I make it happen, and I get back up and fight for my dignity back!

When failure comes, learn from it. If you have to stop for a moment indulge yourself in that swamp of failure, wallow, get angry, get mad, get sad and then up up and brush yourself. Off you go to the next project you have. You cannot stop, you need to move forward. I know this may sound hard but, we all go through that same situation.

Just have more faith and be gentle to yourself while you are in this situation.

Failure as in your project idea failed to pan out, or failure as in you're broke, your business is in the can, and you can't pay your bills?

There's a difference.

But, like you said. Got to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

As Edison once said about his relentless pursuit of the light bulb..."I didn't fail 700 times, I found 700 ways that didn't work."

He went on to try other methods that numbered in the thousands before he had success as we would think of it. I think sometimes failure is more about mind set than it is actual results we look at.

A campaign that we feel is a failure many times is simply the first step to success. Many times that failure is founded in unrealistic expectations or poor preparation. The failure is then a way for us to see and realize the methods we chose are less than acceptable and not to make those particular errors again.

It sure is hard to remember that sometimes though!

"Next?...."

Hugh

I am an avid snowboarder. When I was first learning with my friends, there was the occasional wipeout, and subsequent visit to the lodge immediately afterwards. But as we left our beginner status we started to brag about not falling down for an entire session on the hill. One day, I heard a much more experienced rider say that if you aren't falling down, you aren't pushing yourself to be better. He was correct. The professionals fall down repeatedly. They break bones, suffer concussions and some risk death.

Failures are opportunities to learn, adapt, evolve and become stronger. One way to ensure that failing is a negative thing is to wake up and forget that the whole thing ever happened.

Personally, when I lose a prospect or account I write down exactly why. I stop everything I am doing and focus on that one element. I study, ask questions, talk to others. I problem solve. I didn't lose the prospect because I am bad at what I do. I lost this prospect and as a result I will know exactly what to do the next 10 times the situation occurs. Then a new failure will occur, and I will continue to evolve. No anger, no forgetting, only progress.

When I fail I always analyze where I made mistakes. I must learn from my mistakes otherwise I know I will repeat them next time.

Failure should be embraced. The best lessons in life and business arise out of failing, learning the mistakes and not making them again.

That's not to say you'll not fail again, you will but never for the same reasons.

Fail quick, fail cheaply, fail often!

Good luck and keep your chin up!

wow, i cant believe the amount of PM's i got asking if i was ok.

That's just one more reason I think this place is awesome.

Just so we are clear, i am very much ok, my business is very much ok.
my failure had nothing to do with my offline business.

It was just a IM related campaign.

My post was half a vent, but really more of a question, wondering how others
dealt with the sting of failure.

I am really stunned by the amount of moral support i received,
thank you, you guys made my day.

failure comes and goes in internet marketing. better not to loose hope.
and dont stop trying

Bro... you're not talking about what I think you are, are you?

If so.... that's a shame because if you consider that a failure, it has made me a TON of money and really taking over a big aspect of my marketing. People just don't understand the value, that's my guess. The value in that is so huge that I can't even explain. If I bring up numbers, people would think I'm just bragging.

Man... what you put out, was AWESOME. People just don't realize it I guess. It kind of bums me out that it wasn't a huge hit.

Even if you consider it a failure... someone with your skill can't be held back by any failure. It sucks when something doesn't go as expected. I think that maybe you ARE supposed to be effected by it, and get down because of it. Successful people hate failure... and use it to drive them to improve. It's never ending I guess, we always strive for perfection, but as we progress, perfection changes.

The business sense you have must be great, to be able to tell when to chalk it up and move on. That's something I haven't managed to do yet. When something fails, I drive it and drive it into the ground more and more waaaay beyond the point I should. It's admirable that you know when that point is.

Yeah, I was going to say; Kens standards are pretty high. He's pretty high maintenance....lol Im gettin tired of draggin him around

Kens so high maintainance that you cant even afford to hang out with him on the INTERNET.

Its lookin like Tuesday Ken. As in "next".... I want to lay a little more groundwork...