Last week, I heard a phrase that I have heard or said myself at various times throughout my life. And that phrase is “Failure is not an option.” Chances are we have all heard or uttered that same saying.

That really got me thinking and unfortunately, I just think that is not necessarily true.

Failure is a real option, and chances are in many cases we have all failed at something at some point in our lives. Merriam-Webster defines failure is an omission of occurrence or performance.

Whether it is in business, sports or life, there has probably been a time where for whatever reason we have made a bad decision, not gathered the right information or not given our all that had lead to failure.

It can be not assembling the proper or enough information, swinging at a bad pitch or making a bad pass, or just not giving the proper effort. In certain cases, there are things that for whatever reason just seem to be doomed from the start.

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said that “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be”. This means that while failure is destined to occur at some point, the inability to make alterations to overcome and adjust could and probably will continue to be one’s downfall.

However, while failure is a part of reality, we should always strive for excellence and be our best at everything. No one wants to fail, so why not try to be the most prepared and ready for potential obstacles.

Does that mean unexpected things will not jump up? No, but being prepared and striving for excellence will help in overcoming many of those potential challenges.

So, what happens when failure does occur? Regardless of what has happened to cause it, the most important thing is to learn from it and understand what caused the failure to happen.

It’s easy to get down or sulk about it. I know I have. But it is essential for future success to take it as a lesson learned and turn a project, a play in a game or a situation in life and make it an achievement the next time around.

Lastly, do not be afraid to fail because it is coming at some point. Knowing it will happen and being able to overcome it will make you more successful in the long run.

 

Josh Morrison is the general manager at The Tribune. To reach him, call 740-532-1441 ext. 16 or by email at josh.morrison@irontontribune.com.