Jim’s Gems: Failure is a Stepping Stone to Success

 

Most people fear failure, but failure does not prevent success. Actually, failure can lead to success as long we learn from it.  Failure is one of the keys to success because it teaches us more.  Thomas Edison, maybe the greatest inventor of the modern era, said the following while on his journey to create the long-lasting electric light bulb, “I’ve not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

There is no failure, no disappointment, no mistake in our past that can stop us from taking a positive step forward right now. No matter how many times we may have fallen short of the mark before, success is closer than ever.  All our past failures were actually laying the foundation for our future successes.

Each time we get it wrong, we learn much more about how to get it right.  Like Edison, we need to keep putting that growing knowledge and experience to use, and we're certain to reach our goal.  Every adversity, disappointment, and failure carries with it the seeds of success.  It just takes a little positive mental attitude and a commitment to keep trying.

Once you are able to treat failure as a learning opportunity you can put it in the past and be able to move forward.  The disappointments you experienced in the past is over and can hold you back no longer.

Now is when you're able to move forward. Today you can take the valuable lessons you've learned and transform them into effective, positive, action.

Whether it has seemed to work or not, every step you've taken up to now has brought you closer to success. Failures are but stepping stones on the road to success. You have the confidence to move ahead.  You understand that your desire for success has to be greater than your fear of disappointment and failure.  Take the steps that will take you were you need to be.  It’s up to you.  

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Jim L. Smith has more than 45 years of industry experience in operations, engineering, research and development and quality management. You can reach Jim at faceofquality@qualitymag.com.

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