Although we seem to be convinced from a young age to seek success at all costs, and even to “freak out” at even the possibility of failure, Michael Lindenmayer, in an article in Forbes magazine, entitled The Five Major Benefits of Failure, discusses five benefits of failing, and gives some ways students who are success oriented can put themselves on track to reap those benefits.
Among the benefits of failing are:
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Clarity: If we fail, we are forced to pay more attention, clear out all the “extra” stuff, and focus on the project at hand. If we are always succeeding, it is easy to simply become lazy and expect success.
How can we do this? Lindenmayer suggests you need to “face your fear”. Fear causes us settle for mediocrity. We lose the willpower to do our best because we are afraid we might fail. The fact is, if you step outside of your comfort zone you might fail, but you might succeed. Either way you will live through it, and learn from your experience. At the very least you will find one way that doesn’t work.
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Champions: True champions stick by your side during the tough times. Fair weather friends disappear when the waters get rough.
Lindenmayer says you have to “face the facts”. One of those facts is some people only hang around with winners. But they were going to take credit for your work if you succeeded anyway, so did you really need them?
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Creativity: Failure forces you to generate fresh ideas, attract new resources, and implement new visions.
In his article, Lindenmayer suggests that when you fail you host an actual feast, invite the best and brightest friends to join you. Then while you are enjoying great food, drink, and friendship, invite candid feedback and reflection. Get their ideas and insight. Open yourself up to new ideas.
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Grit: Failure give you the opportunity to develop resilience. If you learn, adjust, and actually return better than before you have grit. This doesn’t come naturally – it has to be developed – and it can only be developed in the school of hard knocks. Many students who never failed in high school can’t make it through college because they never had the opportunity to develop grit.
If you want to unlock the benefits of resilience and grit, the only way you can do it is to stretch until you fail, pick yourself up, and keep going. Nobody is good at everything. Find something that challenges you and determine you will learn it, then stick to it until you do. Then try something else.
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Freedom: Failure reminds you that you are not invincible. It makes you more humble. If you own your failure, you become liberated. You can now go about your business without all the stress of having to appear perfect.
Winston Churchill said “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Learn something from your failure, pick yourself up, and get back to work.