Success favors speed. ~Unknown
I first heard that quote years ago and thought it was ridiculous. Worse than that it was reckless. My years as a lawyer convinced me that speed is the enemy of accuracy. So if that quote is true that then, well, success likes being wrong. Just didn’t make sense to me.
My consulting business grew and as it did I realized that failure could be a good thing. (Honestly, I still shutter as I type that). Coaching other mediators to grow their practices, I’d say, ‘Try. Fail. Learn. Grow!’ It’s a process and as much you might like to, you can’t just leave a step out. You have to experience failing, if only to know that you won’t die from it. No one is looking at you.
Failure is an option. In fact, it’s often the option that propels you forward. Sometimes out of sheer rage, ‘I will do this or else’. Sometimes out of a desire for redemption, ‘I’m better than that’. Sometimes out of sheer grit! There was a recent study that said one of the differences between serially successful people and others is that they see failure as an acceptable risk. Ask yourself- Am I will be to wrong, to fail, to start again? When the answer to all three is yes, you’re on your way.
Fast forward to this year, and now, I understand failure in a new way. Success is still about failure. But now that I know it’s good to risk, I have to learn to do it faster. Fail faster. Maybe the same thing applies to you. One of my favorite marketing experts, Dave Navarro extols the virtues of ‘failing fast’. He loves to try things out quickly, get the feedback and adjust. No sense really in spending a lot of time developing a part of your wedding business that brides aren’t interested in. I learned that by failing fast.
I did a promotion at the world famous Filene’s Basement Running of the Brides last year. While I had a great time- what an experience! Have you ever been with 1500 screaming women who want to buy? So wild. The promotion flopped. Brides couldn’t have cared less about learning to negotiate or communicate more gracefully. However, people who deal with brides (like moms and wedding vendors like you) LOVED the idea. Without that failure, I know I would’ve spent months shaping my brand and products only to be devastated later by low results. I don’t want that to happen to you.
So, here’s what I’m asking you to do. Act. Act with speed. Fail. Then look for the ways to Grow.
I’m doing this too. I threw together my tiny 8 question survey in 1 day. Not my usual days of research on question format or topics. I reached out to my coaching group, asked their advice then launched it. And the results have been amazing. Yeah, I did screw up a question (I meant to ask for URL not email in the last question). The survey isn’t perfect. But the upside is that my confidence and understanding grew like crazy. You told me exactly who you are, what you think about the wedding community, and what solutions you want. The survey revealed some interesting data that I’m dying to talk about with you. (only 29 more respondents until I hit 100 and achieve statistical accuracy- did you take it already?)
I’m so curious to hear what you think about failing and what words inspire you about it. I’ll leave you with this beauties:
To fail is the natural consequence of trying. To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other way, no matter what you do, is to invite yourself to be hurt and limit your enthusiasm for trying. ~ David Viscott
Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failing is another stepping stone to greatness. ~ Oprah Winfrey
