Fail Fast and Often

This is more of a collection of ideas than a true blog post. I noticed that my collection was mounting up so I thought I would take these ideas and organize them, in case you’d find them helpful. Feel free to comment below with other ideas or comments.

The only way to grow and the only way to learn is through failure.

Become willing to look at the reality of the situation and embrace it, no matter where the outcome seems to be heading. You will get to success much quicker.

Don’t hide behind excuses! Ask yourself:

• What did I do this time (failure)?
• What can I do differently?
• What is failure trying to teach you?

Get beyond the emotional charge and stories associated with failure.

Do you approach failure as the final straw that ends the project, or as a stepping stone to creating something better? When you can move beyond the failure and take the next tiny step forward, you have already succeeded! What you’ve done is built sturdier self-confidence and fortitude.

Allow yourself to distinguish between the act of failing and the fear and anticipation of possibly failing.

If you’re trying something you care deeply about, it’s important to keep hope and a positive attitude alive. Stay motivated and set up “accountability markers” to keep you on track so you can’t quit!

Take a look of what “being wrong” means to you. If you’re not willing to be wrong, you may never come up with anything original! It’s important to find your own truth. Following others’ paths, which may not be right for you could lead to many more wrong turns than paths toward an original idea, concept or product.

The more you allow yourself to fail, the more bold you get to put yourself out there with something you believe in. And, the further away you get from what other people think!

Be flexible with your plans. You may think you need to take Steps A, B, and C in that order. But, if at step B you fail, that doesn’t mean that you might not have had better luck with Step C as the next step instead. Try to adapt as you go, armed with the knowledge that got you this far.

Acknowledge the effort, assess the meaning of the set back, and then decide whether to continue or abandon ship.