Failure is not an option. It is a great one time sound bite, but it is the absolute opposite of the main message of Celebrating Failure: The Power of Taking Risks, Making Mistakes and Thinking Big.
As we enter the theatre of battle (a 10K road race or a compeititve business pitch for a multi million dollar account) we have probably all uttered that catchy sound bite as a form of temporary self-motivation.
“Failure is not an option,” can provide a surge of cerebral courage and needed motivational adrenaline. Imagine asking the boss, a wily, long-time negotiation veteran, for your first ever raise.
You need an edge, so you say to yourself, “Failure is not an option.” Hoping it provides the needed courage to simply ask.
Used in that context it can be helpful. But as a lifetime philosophy it can be debilitating.
We need to step up often and take risks and learn from our failures. Failure is an incredible learning experience from which we learn and grow. It’s not only okay to fail, it’s imperative and a prerequisite for success.
Those that are most successful—those that conquer the biggest challenges know that failure is an option and they are comfortable with the possibility as an essential learning experience and step toward success.
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