Fail Often

Most of us have a fear of failure. Software failures. Failed relationships. Failure to thrive. Failing tests. Failing to get the job. Failing to make the sale. Failing to pick up.  I have known people (hmmm some friend – not me) who has had tantrums when the laptop fails to connect to the network.  ‘Epic fail’ is even a put down these days.

So why would anyone ever give advice to ‘Fail quickly and fail often’? I dare you to google the phrase. You will get results from Professors, Marketing Gurus like Seth Godin and HarvardBusiness.org. So what do they know that we don’t?

Nothing.

They do however have a different perspective.  They are focused on learning. They accept that failing is a natural part of the learning process. They are far less attached to the stigma and embarrassment of failure, less interested in keeping face.  They realise that not acting, or playing it safe (thus remaining stagnant) is far worse than making a few mistakes en route to the next epiphany. re

So how do we apply the thinking of the world’s top strategists (not the ones responsible for the global credit crisis I promise) to our daily lives? Ask for Honest Feedback if its not working let it go or change it. Take action; if in doubt do something, anything, just don’t allow yourself to remain stagnant by default.

Even Michael Jordan fails a lot.