The Power of Embracing Failure

Written by: Joe Kuhns

In most circumstances, the more you lead the better you become. You will have moments of success, which should be cherished and noted. But failure can also provide a stepping stone to success in all aspects of life, if used properly.

Throughout my military career, I picked up quite a few sayings about embracing failure:

“Failure is only a failure if you don’t learn from it”

“You have not failed until you quit trying”

“F.A.I.L. = First Attempt In Learning”

Do not be afraid of failure. All the great leaders, athletes, and worriers have failed, and failed more than once. Some of the hardest lessons I have learned have been through my failures or someone else’s. It’s said that “calm seas never made a good sailor.”

That is true about anything in life. You will always have rough spots, trials, hard times and adversity that you face. The question is, are you committed enough to go through that adversity? Winners do, losers don’t!

It is a true failure if you quit, stop trying, give up or surrender. Look at it as a mindset shift from thinking failure to a minor or major setback but never defeat. Always moving forward no matter how many detours or setbacks that disguise themselves as failures that try to get you to quit or give up.

My marriage alone has seen its fair share of rough water, but my wife and I have survived with all its setbacks, which has made our marriage stronger to weather bigger storms if need be.

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The key is to learn from your mistakes and not keep repeating them.

In my line of work, repeating your mistakes will only make you a poor leader and can get someone killed or get you killed.

Perhaps in a financial advisor’s line of work, the learning curve doesn’t come with as high of a price, but lively hoods are at stake, the learning curve can still be very steep at times. Clients, employees, partners. They count on you, and sometimes you will fail them. Those moments can be an opportunity for progress, if you choose to embrace them and avoid repeating them.

Always demonstrating humbleness to your teammates in times of setbacks taking full responsibility will only strengthen the team, relationships, and build your character.

Remember, don’t be afraid to fail. Instead, embrace the learning you get from your failures!