Ignite Success Sooner: 2 Ways to Fail Better

Research reveals key indicators to success by looking at the dynamics of failure. Practical examples included.

Illustration by Cynthia Marinakos.

I’d done this climb many times. But for some reason today, it didn’t feel right. felt uneasy and uncomfortable. I couldn’t find the right handholds. My feet didn’t feel secure. My arms were tired. “I don’t want to fall” was the mantra in my mind. And to make it all worse, panic had made its way in and decided to stay, like a visitor who doesn’t get the hint it’s time to go home.

And then it happened…the event every lead climber trains for so it doesn’t happen — falling with your foot behind the rope. Because what happens is your feet get caught in the rope as you fall. Then you flip, hitting your head (protected by a helmet) on the rock. It’s the equivalent of bungee jumping next to a rock face.

It surprised and shocked me. It took my breath away. It took me a few minutes to register what had happened. Falling seems like failing when it comes to climbing. And this would count as a gigantic failure.

When have you “failed”?
Remember the last time you poured your heart and soul into an endeavor you were passionate about?

A girl you really like.
…delivering a speech.
…applying for a job.
…writing an article.
…developing a new product.

You’ve spent hours investigating and planning. Thinking about it before you sleep. And when you wake. Your heart pounds when you think about it. You feel scared yet excited at the same time. “What if they don’t like it?”. “What if I don’t get a reply?”. “Maybe I’m not the right person for this”.

Oh yes. Our minds are an expert at coming up with reasons to quit. Great at making us feel that we’re not good enough. Yelling obscenities at us when we dare greatly…when we put our self-worth on the line.

A unique 2019 study on the dynamics of failure gives us extra insight into the role of failure in success — 2 specific insights stand out. That’s what I want to share with you today. Not just that, you’ll discover practical ways to use this…