My life is a series of failures.
I’ve failed at quite a few things in my life. More than I probably care to admit. Sometimes they were epic failures. Sometimes they were tiny mistakes. No matter how hard I try to scrub myself clean, I’ve got failure all over me. It sticks to me like vinyl seats on a hot summer day and just won’t come off. It’s like I have a giant blinking neon sign over my head: Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. It lurks around every corner and can’t wait to sink its razor sharp claws into me as I go down kicking and screaming.
Failure is not always evident, sometimes it’s a slow process, other times it’s of the crash and burn variety. Failure is a chameleon coming in all different shapes, sizes, and patterns. It could be about to happen to me right now, but I’m too busy typing this to even notice. Failure is good at coming when you least expect it.
“Houston, we have a problem.”
Regardless of whether you believe that Gene Kranz every uttered the phrase or not, “Failure is not an option.,” is about as American as apple pie. I’m here to tell you that I like cherry pie. I disregard this phrase every day of my life. Why? Because it’s not only an option, it’s a requirement. I got to thinking about failure recently while speaking with AgentGenius’ very own Chris Griffith and ActiveRain member, Craig Rutman. In two completely different conversations, I was reminded of my thoughts of what it meant to fail.
In chatting with Chris about her “MLS Fail Shots” series, I thought about my first listing and what had happened there. After a few emails, I decided to come clean with Chris and offer up myself as an example. You can see the results for yourself – if you can hold in the giggles over how bad I handled the photos.
With Craig, our telephone conversation zipped from point to point. Craig’s great for a chat and it was a fascinating conversation, full of funny stories, tips and advice, and talk about our lives as agents. Somewhere in there, I remember Craig talked about how you needed to fail in order to learn how not to fail. I’ve actually had this post title in my head for a long time and I told him about it. The phone call left an impression on me and here I am on a Wednesday night pondering failure once more. Seems my week has been full of “failure.”
“But, if I fail, I lose…right?”
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Wrong answer! Failure will always be the winner’s way. Failing is about opening yourself up to accepting that you’re not perfect, that you might not know everything, and you may have made a mistake here or there. Constant failure may not be a good idea, but without the occasional failure you never move forward. Failure is life’s educator. Failure is a reminder to sharpen your skills. Failure will kick your butt, throw you down in the mud, and laugh at you. Do you want to lay in the mud waiting for the crowd that’s gathered to start laughing like Nelson Muntz (Ha-Ha!)? Or do you want to get up, wipe the mud from your face and keep on moving? Stagnate or forward momentum? Failure is not just an option, it’s the only way forward.
photo courtesy of fireflythegreat
