Success is on ‘far side of failure’

The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance greater than 30 feet. Yet, these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall.

The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land.

A lot of humans are like this. They are afraid to take a risk.

Not me. I understood at an early age that in order to triple your success ratio, you might have to triple your failure rate.

Thomas J. Watson, the founder and first president of IBM, said: “Failure is a teacher — a harsh one, perhaps, but the best. ... That’s what I have to do when an idea backfires or a sales program fails. You’ve got to put failure to work for you ... you can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So, go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because that’s where you will find success. On the far side of failure.”

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Set goals with spirit of optimism

The new year is a time for reflection and contemplation. Common questions we ask ourselves: Did the previous year turn out how I had envisioned? Did I meet the goals I set? Of what am I most proud? In hindsight, how would I have done things differently?

Regardless of how you think about the previous year, the biggest gift you can give the people who follow you is to approach the start of a new year with optimism. Obviously, you shouldn’t pretend problems don’t exist or paint a rosy picture when there isn’t one. However, I suggest you put time into reframing the challenges and obstacles in your life.

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