Nobody Achieves Anything Without Failure (huh?)

In: Advice| Books By: Brian Armstrong

20 Nov 2007

Sometimes people ask me questions like:
Why take the risk of quitting your job?

I was just listening to Brian Tracy speak in The Psychology of Achievement, and he phrases it better than I could have:

Every single peak performing human being, every single high achieving man or woman, has been a person who has thrown off the natural tendency to play it safe and stay within the comfort zone, and has continually tried to exceed their previous levels of accomplishment, has continually moved forward into the risk zone, to try something more and bigger and better and more important. Every single accomplishment in the history of man, has come from men and women who have had the courage to take the risks, to step out even though they had no guarantee or assurance of success.

I would go as far as to say that it is IMPOSSIBLE to reach your full potential as a human being while spending a third of your life working for someone else. Make a quick list of people who really changed the world, helped others, and were wildly successful. Did they have a 9-to-5 corporate job?

I also love what Brian Tracy has to say about failure. Most people don’t try, and those that do give up after the first or second time.

In studying the lives and stories of the most outstanding men and women of all of history, we find that every single one of them has been a great failure. People do not understand the importance of failure in achievement. The fact is that it is impossible to succeed without failing, that failure is an indispensable prerequisite for success, and that all great success is proceeded by great failure…Every single person who has tried to accomplish something outside the ordinary has suffered setback and obstacle and defeat and adversity and disappointment and heartache over and over again as they have moved toward their goal. There is no record of anybody ever having achieved any kind of success without having failed over and over again. The only difference is that the winners continually pick themselves up and carry on knowing that ultimate success is inevitable as long as they keep on going on…your persistence is your measure of your belief in yourself.

Brian Tracy is awesome. If this interests you check out The Psychology of Achievement on audio book.

7 Responses

Travel Guy

November 25th, 2007 at 6:01 pm

I totally agree with Brian Tracy’s comments on “focusing to achieve”. But that doesn’t necessarily mean having to quit your job.

I’ve had jobs I liked and some I didn’t. It really just depends on what you’re trying to achieve whether you work for yourself or someone else.

I’ve got an entrprenauial bent and no great surprise, enjoyed those jobs where I called the shots. It was pretty nice having deep company pockets supporting whatever I wanted to do, and the pay was great as well.

At the end of the day though you’ve got to follow you passion. For me I just got tired of being part of the corporate world.

I came to find I valued other things and wanted to pursue the things I’m passionate about at my own pace, not to mention my own location.

People can be happy whether they draw a paycheck or create their own, but only if they’re doing what they enjoy. Life’s too short to be totally focused on making a living.

Tom Volkar

November 28th, 2007 at 7:44 pm

I find it fascinating that mistake making is a prerequisite to success yet somehow our schools mold young minds into believing that failing is bad.

I think it’s connected to the poisonous conformity that our schooling encourages. It takes a strong individual to take risks, fail and continue to come back again and again. We really do need to become bullet proof to the opinions of others. It’s the only path to freedom.

Kristen

January 6th, 2008 at 12:09 am

Question…..How do you know what it is that you want to do the rest of your life. I am a 51 year old woman. RN by trade, BBA Management and currently in Master’s in Health Law. I do these things so I don’t end up being dependent on SS and my children. Problem is….I don’t really know what I wan to be when I grow up…I don’t have any time left really and need to know NOW! How do I discover what floats my boat?
Need help.
Thanks for any advice you all could give.

Tom Volkar

January 6th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Kristen,

You’ve asked the question of the ages. It’s a process with many factors and considerations. That’s why I’ve dedicated my blog http://delightfulwork.com to looking at all the options in this vital quest for work life freedom and aliveness. Come on over and take a look. Also be sure to read all of Brian’s excellent articles to see which content stirs something within you.

The good news is that you haven’t settled and you know that your work can be so much more. Keep questioning and write all of your answers in a journal so you can go back, reflect and consider often.

Brian Armstrong

January 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

Hi Kristen,

First realize that everyone is in the same position you are. We are all trying to figure out what we love in life. The idea that you suddenly find the one thing is a myth. Successful people are on a constant journey to find what they love, and they love the process that continues throughout life, not the mythical one answer.

With that being said here are a few questions you may want to take some serious time to WRITE the answer to. (Some of these come from Brian Tracy)

1. What would you dare to dream if you knew you could not fail and you had $100 million in the bank?

2. What would you do if you knew you’d be dead in 30 days?

3. Who do you admire the most and why?

There are 10 exercises and a whole chapter to help you answer this question in my book, but hopefully this gives you a start. Good luck!
Brian

Jeff Chavez

January 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

Brian,

This is very true. In order for people to succeed in life, they must have failed at something first.

I discuss this subject in my blog post: http://northstarthinktank.typepad.com/northstar_thinktank/2007/04/even_the_best_e.html

Keep up the good work!

Jeff

vipan kamra

January 23rd, 2008 at 8:13 am

i m 23year a graduate passed out, & i doing wel seteld job in mkting,i want to start my own business but their are a fear in my mind about sucess, bcoz i belong to middle class family & funds availbilty is once, finely wat i should do, if i will fail no other way for me.
so plz suggest me wat i should do now.

Breaking Free

Nobody Achieves Anything Without Failure (huh?)

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