“Failing Forward” is Timeless and Timely Path to Success

John C. Maxwell is an icon on leadership and success. His book, “Failing Forward”, is one of my favorite books and one of the first books I read on leadership and success. A mentor recommended it when I ventured into a new business in a new industry.

I share a ‘longer quote” from “Failing Forward” with you on timeless and timely wisdom.

The Impossible Question

When I was growing up, one of the questions I used to hear from motivational speakers was this: “If the possibility of failure were erased, what would you attempt to achieve?”

That seemed to me to be an intriguing question. At the time it prompted me to look ahead to life’s possibilities. But then one day I realized that it was really a bad questions. Why? Because it takes a persons’ thinking down the wrong track. There is no achievement without failure. To even imply that it might be possible gives people the wrong impression. So here’s a better question: If your perception of and response to failure were changed, what would you attempt to achieve?

I don’t know what obstacles you are facing in your life right now. But whatever they are doesn’t matter. What DOES matter is that your life can change if you’re willing to look at failure differently. You have the potential to overcome any problems, mistakes, or misfortunes. All you have to do is learn to fail forward. If you are ready to do that, turn the page and leg’s go!

Your First Step to Failing Forward
Realize There is One Major Difference Between Average People and Achieving People

Look at the way an achiever approaches negative experiences, and you can learn a lot about how to fail forward. Read through these two lists, and determine which one describes your approach to failure:

Please see attached file for "Fail Backward and Fail Forward Chart " from John Maxwell's book.

Think about a recent setback you experienced. How did you respond? No matter how difficult your problems were, the key to overcoming them doesn’t lie in changing your circumstances. It’s in changing yourself. That in itself is a process, and it begins with a desire to be teachable. If you’re willing to do that, then you’ll be able to handle failure. From this moment on, make a commitment to do whatever it takes to fail forward.”

Ponder this wisdom and choose to Fail Forward often.

Barbara Filla
Passion Branding Community
Passionate about assisting you to Fail Forward to success.