Failure is such a negative word, isn’t it? And most people have the wrong outlook. They think that failing means it’s over, they’re done, there’s no possibility for success. In reality, it’s just the opposite. As long as you learn from your failures, each one brings you another step closer to your goal.
If you’re going to work online then you need to get used to the idea that you’re going to fail. You might go a week, and you might fail two or three times a day. But it’s guaranteed – you will fail… a lot. So get ready for it. And here are 25 lessons I’ve learned from failure that really make it all worthwhile.
- Failure doesn’t mean you have to stop, it just means you have to try again
- Keep moving forward, stay focused on your next goal
- Plan your work and work your plan
- Solve the problem before you move on
- Set smaller, more manageable goals
- Follow your passion but base your decisions on facts
- Listen to your customers, they know what they need
- Focus on the short-term solutions and successes. Technology changes too fast to try to predict what the Internet will be like 10 years from now.
- Instead of trying to be “Innovative” focus on being “The Best”
- Always Over Deliver
- Be tenacious. You will fail – time and time again. Stick to your guns and keep trying.
- Focus your efforts on one customer at a time. It’s impossible to target the entire Internet.
- Make your own decision. Only you know your own strengths and weaknesses.
- Be prepared to ask for help. Nobody knows everything.
- Failure doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t kill you. And that which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
- Learn to recognize when it’s time to change course
- Sometimes you really do need to spend money to make money. Be prepared.
- Don’t ever stop learning
- Learn all the rules before you unleash your plan of attack
- Once you learn the rules you can break them more effectively
- Success doesn’t hurt, either. Are you self-sabotaging your business because you’re afraid of success?
- Being stubborn isn’t always a good thing. If 50 million people say it’s true, it probably is, whether you like it or not.
- On the other hand, one Doubting Thomas doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Have courage!
- Choose your battles. Arguing with a commentor is just going to make you look bad. Save it for when you have a billing problem with your hosting company or your email provider deletes your list.
- Absolutely nothing involved with working online is carved in stone.
See? Failure isn’t nearly as horrible as some people make it sound. Each time you fail you learn something, some small lesson that helps strengthen your business. So if you’re putting off getting started because you’re afraid you’re fail, then stop worrying. You’re in good company. Everybody fails all the time. The key is to learn from your failures and keep moving forward.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!
