The Tender Question
Garrett asks me a question about failure and I was surprised how it hit me emotionally. I guess it’s because I am passionate to see every entrepreneur succeed.
I love entrepreneurs and I know it’s brutal out there, because I’m out there, too. It pains my heart to see an entrepreneur who has been beaten up on their journey.
We all feel like a failure sometimes.
Watch the video below to see my response to his question,
“What words do you have for an entrepreneur who feels like a failure?”
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Elaboration to my Response
Permit me to share a quote with you from the epilogue of my book The Next Level Entrepreneur: Focus your Passions ∙ Map your Direction ∙ Build a Great Company:
“The man who lost the spirit of youth is too busy with gloomy forecasts…
Men with the spirit of youth pioneered our America…
Men with vision and sturdy confidence. They found contentment in the thrill of action, knowing that
Success was never final and failure never fatal.
It was courage that counted.
Isn’t opportunity in America today greater than it was in the days of our grateful forefathers?
Live life…Every golden minute of it.
~ excerpted from a 1938 Anheuser-Busch Ad used on page 215 of The Next Level Entrepreneur
There Cannot be Success Without Failure
No matter how things may look right now, my hope for you is that you never lose the spirit of youth and get trapped in “gloomy forecasts”.
As I say in the video, “Your failing does not define the person you are. You are not a failure.”
Frankly, in my experience I have found that there can’t be success without failure.
In other words, failure is a part of success. Those people you read about who have made it ‘big’ went through failures to achieve that success, we just never hear about the failure part.
My hope for you is that you receive guidance in your journey and avoid as many mistakes as possible, but realize some failures may be necessary to provide the lessons needed to achieve success.
Remember, failing does not mean you are a failure.
Pause with this for a moment. Let this sink into your heart. You are not a failure!
First Attempt In Learning
Consider a different perspective on the word “fail”, as A.P.J. Abdul Kalam describes,
“If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means:
First Attempt In Learning"
Let’s build on that!
I’ve known about the following ad copy a long time, and I’m always inspired when I remember it.
It appeared in The Wall Street Journal in 1983 and was written by Harry Gray, then CEO of United Technologies:
“Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
You’ve failed many times, although you may not remember.
You fell down the first time you tried to walk.
You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn’t you?
Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat?
Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.
R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.
English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.
Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.
Don’t worry about failure.
Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.”
You Are Not A Failure
you are NEVER a failure and no amount of failing can ever make you a failure!
You have been placed on this earth for some great purpose.
Now, dust yourself off and continue your hero’s journey. We need you to succeed!
~ George
P.S. The pre-launch offer discount for my Strategies to Actions masterclass is expiring September 10 and this great price will not be repeated!
If you know anybody that this masterclass could help, please let them know. They can book a free call with me at TheNextLevelEntrepreneur.net to discuss the details of the class.