I had started this post a while back and just ran into a post by Tony Morgan that was a much better version of what I was working on. So I decided to cut and paste some of his and add a bit of mine in as well.
We have all failed, some more than others, and it is rarely fun. It can however be something that can lead to greater success in the future if we learn from our mistakes and failures. In an attempt to help you avoid some of the mistakes I've made in starting businesses, pastoring, managing teams, and even leading fraternity brothers on Spring Break trips, here is a list of things that will INCREASE your chance of failure (so you should try to avoid them), followed by some thoughts on each.
These are not in any particular order...
1. It’s not your passion. If it doesn’t make your heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you’re trying to sleep, you’re probably doing the wrong thing. That's OK for small things, but never make the ONE thing something that doesn't absolutely energize you.
2. You don’t have a plan. You need a vision, and you need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality. That includes a financial plan. This is one of the most IMPORTANT pieces to work on before you even think about moving on any action items.Planning is to Success what location is to Real Estate.
3.You’re waiting for it to be perfect. Test-drive it. Beta-test it You’ll fall into the trap of inaction if you think it has to be absolutely right from day one. This is where many people stop, they are so afraid of failure that they are paralyzed by moving their simply very good idea forward hoping to tweak it to perfection.
4. You’re not willing to work hard. Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance. It's a bit cliched, but nothing in life worth having is free. I've done many things with varying degrees of success, the best results have always followed the best efforts.
5. It’ll outgrow you. Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders that can be who you’re not. This has been a BIG weakness of mine, I'm competent enough to think I don't need much help, which makes me pretty incompetent at really blowing something up HUGE. This is the Field of Dreams, Build the Team, success will come.
6. You’ve had success in the past. People and organizations have a tendency to hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes. Momentum fades. It’s risky to let go of the past and jump on the next wave. The enemy of the Great is the Good, we often stop short of the full level of success that we could attain if we just kept pushing.
7. You’re unwilling to stop doing something else. Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can’t build a healthy marriage if you’re unwilling to give up dating other women. Who/what do you need to stop dating? I get lots of ideas, I dabble with projects, I always have lots of "irons in the fire", don't follow that lead. Ask yourself "What is the one thing I can do better than anyone else?" Do that with all your might!
8. You won’t build a team of friends. Anyone can hire from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the morning. This one challenges me, I'm good at relationships to a certain depth, I am working to go deeper, it will help in almost every area of life. BUT, while trust is of the utmost importance, competence is also needed, don't hire you're buddies just to hang out, you're looking for people who can actually help!
9. You won’t have the tough conversations. When breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to relational healing. This works best when you've followed the advice above and the people in the room have relationships beyond the issues at hand.
10. You're will not HIS will. I almost left this out as it won't be popular if you aren't a "person of faith", but I've learned the hard way, no matter how prepared, competent, cash infused, team surrounded, I am, if it's just me it will never be all it could and should be. Find His will for you, and I guarantee Success.
11. You Give up too soon. This is frightening to me, because we never know how many times we've failed at the cusp of the breakthrough, when we don't push to the limits and beyond, we'll never know how great the win could be. If you've done all the other things, and you're convinced it's the right thing, don't stop, KEEP GOING.
12. You Don't take breaks. We've all heard of burnout, but it takes on a whole new meaning when you've experienced it. We were made with REST as an integral part of our needs. If you ignore it too long...YOU WILL FAIL.
13. You’re afraid of failure. When fear consumes you, it will cause you to do stupid things. You’ll let negativity distract you. You’ll embrace the known, and grow comfortable with mediocrity. The more often you fail, though, the more often you’ll find success. Since I've failed a lot, it's time to try some new things, I'm DUE a WIN...
So... don't do the things in bold and you will save yourself from much of the mess I've made and experienced. Get out there and MAKE IT HAPPEN! Know that you will fail, but every failure brings you closer to the ultimate Successes waiting just around the bend, hopefully this list will straighten the road.
