How Failure is the Key to Success

One of the things that I see every single day while I’m online is a success story. It feels like everyone has had some win, whether big or small, and they’re celebrating it in the company of those that understand the most.

And it’s to be expected! It’s a completely rational thing to jump and shout and celebrate those high moments. But there’s a dark side to that kind of celebration. A part that we often forget when we’re sharing those wins.

The people that are in the trenches and struggling to get through a day of business. They see those wins, the successes, the numbers and they wonder what they’re doing wrong. Why aren’t they reaching their goals. What’s wrong with them?

Now please don’t take this to mean that we shouldn’t publically celebrate. We should absolutely own our wins. But when we’re in those moments where we feel like everyone else is on top and we’re just barely staying afloat, we must remember one thing.

The road to success is paved with many, many, many failures.

And truth be told, failure is the key to success.

Sounds kind of counter-intuitive to think that way but it’s absolutely true.

Here’s the thing: So many people believe failure is the end. It’s that moment that signals that you can’t do something or you won’t be able to do things the way they “need to be done.” Unfortunately, this belief really just signals something called a fixed mindset. And those with a fixed mindset will indeed struggle with failure and how it negatively impacts their business.

What we actually need as business owners is a growth mindset. A growth mindset allows us to see what failure truly is. It isn’t a means to an end. It’s not a symbol of your worth or your value as a business owner or as a person. Failure is far more powerful than that. In fact, it’s the most powerful resource you have as a business owner.

Because failure is a lesson. It’s a step in the process leading to your greatest potential. In fact, failure is a key way to determine whether or not you’re aiming high enough within your business.

If you’re constantly succeeding within your business, you’ll never be able to reach your full potential. Reaching your full potential means learning new things, stepping out of your comfort zone and being willing to grow as a person. When you never fail, you never learn. But if you’ve failed, gloriously even, you’ve learned what doesn’t work. You’ve gained key insights into what you need to do to make something succeed, no matter what the circumstance.

You’ve learned how to be comfortable in places of discomfort and how to make the most of business climates, regardless of what they’re like at the moment.

Failure is the key to lasting success. Nothing more, nothing less. Just failure. Because without failure, you run a greater risk of being a flash in the pan.

And you’re far too incredible to be a flash.

So get out there, try new things, fail. And then analyze how you can keep growing. Because, friend, you absolutely will.