FountainBlue's Blog

In Silicon Valley, where we wear failure like a badge of courage, we must consider that not all failures are *good* failures. Having witnessed first-hand and indirectly ranging from small to spectacular, my rule of thumb when experiencing failure is whether the failure moves you forward.

1. Moving forward means that you’ve learned something new about yourself, and what you do well, and not so well.
2. Moving forward means that you are less likely to do a similar thing again, for very specific reasons.
3. Moving forward means that you build new relationships in your life that adds more meaning and perspective to what you do at work and at home.
4. It also means that some important existing relationships are different and/or better.
5. Moving forward means that you see the overall experience as a net positive one, despite the short-term pain and upset.
6. Moving forward means that you are stronger and better and more grounded overall.
7. Moving forward means people who know you and used to know you may see you now in a different light.
8. Moving forward means that you can forgive yourself, and others involved and know better what to expect from yourself and those same others in future projects.
9. Moving forward means that you have a broader, deeper view of the world, and the people and technologies and things in it.
10. Moving forward means that you are better and braver and more prepared for the next adventure.

As we go into a new year, look for opportunities to succeed, reach for stars, and if you have to fail, fail forward.

Tags: entrepreneurship, leadership

This entry was posted on December 19, 2015 at 5:20 pm and is filed under Entrepreneurship, Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.