You’ve heard it before: “Failing is part of life.” And, let me tell you, sometimes it feels like that’s all there is. But that’s not true. Failing is a huge part of life and it is there for a purpose—so we can learn from our mistakes. Mind you, sometimes we have to repeat the same mistake more than once to finally get it. (Which is beyond frustrating, I know!)
I’ve failed. A lot. Here are some of the mistakes I’ve made in no particular order. They’re all fuck-ups. And I’ve learned from them all.
- I cut corners to make things easy.
I once made a new cover for my sofa. I used a beautiful dark indigo denim. Then I broke my tailbone (which was unrelated to the cover-making.) It was August. It was hot. And I couldn’t sit down; only lay down. Aggravated, I laid out the fabric on top of me and sewed lying down. When I was finished, I was blue from head to toe. Because I’d missed one essential step: Always wash the fabric first.
My failure: I was in a rush. I attacked a problem with frustration. I cut corners.
My lesson: Take pause. The time before starting a project to make sure everything is aligned is essential. (It took me a week to get the dye off!)
- I chose cheap.
I needed a new website and got two quotes. One was significantly cheaper. I chose it because I wanted a deal.
My failure: I chose cheap without considering how that would impact my objectives. Let me tell you, I got what I paid for. And I ended up having to pay for the site twice.
My lesson: Do your research. It’s cheap for a reason.
- I got complacent.
Business was good. So I just let it be good. I didn’t put in extra effort. I coasted.
My failure: I stopped marketing. Before I knew it new business dried up.
My lesson: Never take your foot of the gas, not ever!
- I didn’t talk about what was bothering me.
I did business with a friend and it turned into a nightmare. Because emotions and history and all sorts of things are wrapped up in friendship. And because I didn’t talk to her about what wasn’t working. I let it fester and it ate away at me and at our relationship.
My failure: I didn’t talk about what I was feeling. I swept it under the rug.
My lesson: Put my big girl panties on and talk to the person involved. Ignoring things that bother you only makes them eat away at you. Which does not feel good. Ever.
- I didn’t achieve my goal.
I was expecting some whopper results from a project I was working on with a referral partner. When it wrapped up, I didn’t get the results I was expecting. And I was angry and disappointed in my referral partner.
My failure: I didn’t communicate my expectations from the get-go. So they had no idea what I was expecting or that we came up short.
My lesson: It is my responsibility to communicate what I need and expect. People are not mind readers.
- I did all the work when I didn’t want to.
I partnered up with some colleagues to work on an event. And I ended up doing most of the work. Actually, pretty much all of it. And I was angry about it. Pissed off, even. When I confronted them, they said they didn’t really want to do it but found it difficult to say No to me. So they said Yes, even though it was a No.
My failure: I just assumed they wanted to help. I didn’t ask if they wanted to.
My lesson: Let people make their own choices. Don’t tell them what to do.
This is just 6 of the many, many failures I have had. Like everyone, I don’t like failing. However, I don’t hate it like I once did. Every failure teaches me something. And I am stronger for it. More successful for it. Happier for it.
So when I fall on face (and boy, do I!), I get up, dust off, and keep moving forward.