I see a lot of signs that say “failure is not an option.” That drives me crazy! Because it’s harsh and meant to intimidate. And the only place where “failure is not an option” belongs, is in a life or death situation. If you fail….you die. Plain and simple. But here’s why failure is an option.
(This is an update to a post that was originally published in April, 2014)
It’s just not an appropriate phrase for everyday life. Instead, it causes people to think twice before trying something new….possibly stopping them. And I hate that! Everyone is a beginner at something and Failure is an Option. Even tying your shoe was something you had to learn at first and fail at a few times, before you became an expert. (And I recently found out, I wasn’t even an expert in shoe tying according to this TED Talk.
In her new book, Everything is Figureoutable, Marie Forleo discusses failure and how she doesn’t keep a running list of her failures because she doesn’t truly see them as “failures” but as opportunities to learn. One of her mantra’s is “I win or I learn but I never lose.” Instead, she sees her failures as stepping stones.
FAIL is a Faithful Attempt In Learning according to Marie. You truly fail only if you stop learning and stop trying.
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan
“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan.
I love these two quotes from Michael Jordan. It’s about trying, it’s about practicing it’s about doing. It’s about getting up and trying something new and then doing it again to try to get better at it. So I thought about that phrase “failure is not an option” and wanted to turn it on it’s head. I decided it should be “Failure to Try is not an Option.” I hope you like it. (If you do, there are free printables in different colors below.)
Below are more quotes on failure and the important lessons gained from both trying and failing.
“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” Thomas Edison
“The greatest failure is the failure to try.” William Ward
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again. Only this time more wisely.” Henry Ford
“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” Truman Capote
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
“It is hard to fail, but it’s worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt
“I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” Benjamin Franklin
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” Robert F. Kennedy
Don’t be afraid to fail. Be more afraid to NOT try something new. Be more afraid to allow a failure to stop you from trying again. Be more afraid of NOT learning from your failure.
Click below to print out free printables of Failure to try is not an Option in 4 different color options:
Failure to Try
Failure to Try
Failure to Try
Failure to Try
I love this! Failing to try is not an option is where I need to get to. Too often I have not attempted things because I worried about failing.
I’m also starting to think that a focus on engaging versus mastery is also a good place to be right now. We played shuffleboard last week and I lost every single game….last place every time. I did not fail… I had a great time with friends, I got slightly better for having participated. At this point in my life, I am quite happy to “get the ribbon for participation” – LOL.
I didn’t start any type of skiing until my late 30’s and then I learned to cross country ski. I fell a lot. But I also laughed a lot. In my 40’s I decided to try downhill skiing and found a program in New Hampshire where I paid for lessons for 4 weekends in a row, learn new things each week, and in the end, have a season pass to the ski resort. I faithfully went each weekend and learned to ski and even did a lot of solo downhill runs. And at the end of the season, I was done. I’ve realized that downhill skiing was not for me and never went back. But I tried. I fell. I laughed. And I skied. And I hated it. So I gave it up, knowing that at least I tried and had enough lessons and knowledge to know it just wasn’t for me. I went back to cross country!
Ah yes, I think regret is probably infinitely worse than failure. (Yet I still struggle to ‘try’.)
Yes, regret is worse. I spent a lot of time regretting things I hadn’t done. I’m slowly trying to work through that list now.
This is such an interesting one for me Jennifer – and one I’ve only started getting my head around in the last decade or so. I’ve always been a perfectionist and such a try-hard and scared to make mistakes. Letting some of that over-control go and realizing that a mistake isn’t the end of the world has been such an eye opener. Also interesting to note, I’d never heard of Marie Forleo and you and Christie both mentioned her in the link up today – maybe that’s telling me something?
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
I’m always surprised when other people haven’t heard of Marie Forleo, she’s been around for years and runs the infamous B School that you sometimes see a lot of people blogging about all at once. I think she opens the doors for it once a year for it.
Super interesting concept this – and quite a timely one. I’ve recently started to listen to some episodes of a podcast titled “How To Fail with Elizabeth Day”. I guess it’s all part of the letting go and making yourself vulnerable and having a go anyway thing. #MLSTL
That making oneself vulnerable part can be hard. But it’s also the first step in learning something new. I’ve had to push myself many a time in order to take that next step, to let go and just do it anyway.
I agree 100 percent, Jennifer! I love that quote–I never lose. I either win or I learn.
I love how you rephrased that quote, Jennifer. Even though that concept was in my head, seeing the words makes so much more sense! #MLSTL
It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve worked up the nerve to step out of my comfort zone and try something knowing I might fail…and while I don’t love it, I’m getting more comfortable with failure. I’ve had to finally learn that just because we fail at something doesn’t make us a failure. It just makes us human. I’ve shared this in my private Facebook group – I hope it will resonate with the ladies there like it did with me.
It took me a while to break out of my comfort zone as well. That and a good friend that pushed me. Thank you for sharing.
I like your title, Jennifer and I totally agree with you. We all were a beginner at something. I have not yet read Marie Forleo’s book, although I have listened to a few podcasts recently where she is a guest. I especially like your quote “Failure to try is not an option.” A great post, Jennifer:) Erica #MLSTL and sharing SM
Thanks for stopping by, Eric. I’m glad you enjoy the quote.
Love this and so true. People afraid to fail (and I’ve seen many) tend to stay stuck. Its easier to fail and keep going!
Yes, they do tend to stay stuck in one place and not grow. So much better to try something new and fall flat on your face than not try at all.
I completely agree with you about failure. It usually leads to more opportunities, learning experiences and better outcomes in the long run.
So true. I love Edison’s quote about not failing, he just found 10,000 ways that wouldn’t work.
If we go through life afraid of failing, what will be really succeed at?
I agree with Michael, the key is in the trying. That’s what you need to be afraid of not doing.
Exactly, my friend. Be afraid of NOT trying.
Nothing wrong with a failed attempt. Through your failures, you find out what works and what doesn’t and apply that to future endeavors. Nothing wrong with a little failure.
So true, nothing wrong with failure in order to learn. Babies fail all the time when they’re learning to walk.
You’re so right! I think fear of failure can hold so many people back. What if a fail? But what if you fly! Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith.
Yes! I love that Erin Hanson quote.
“There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask “What if I fall?”
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?”