Failure Creates the Path to Success

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life...”

Yikes. Pretty depressing stuff right? Feeling sorry for this poor guy?

Spare your pity.

Here comes the perspective:

“…and that is why I succeed.” -Michael Jordan

Failed efforts often lead to successes that inspire.

You miss a priceless opportunity when you edit failures out of your story. People who look up to you want to connect with you. They want to relate to you. They want to know you are human.

You don’t need to be perfect; you need to be real.

We all fail.  When we are down, the thing we need most is the belief that we have the strength to get back up and keep fighting.

Let the unedited version of your story inspire those around you. Admit your failures. Own them as part of your legacy.  You never know who you might be helping back up.

Who inspired you when you needed it the most?

Are you Paying it Forward in Service?

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.- Muhammad Ali

Paying it forward is a business practice that has become as important as paying your bills.

Customers learn a lot about the integrity of a business by observing the integrity of its leaders.

Over 14 years ago I decided to become a Rotarian. The Rotary motto is “Service above Self". Those three words have shaped the way I live, run my business, and interact with my community.

Joining a service organization like Rotary or Kiwanis is one of the best ways to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between your business and your community. It enables you to align yourself with other like-minded leaders who value service as an important component of business and life.

As you build your network, demonstrate the type of leader you are by leading in a service organization. We all want to do business with people we like, trust and respect.

If you are not a member of a service organization, maybe it’s time to sit in on a service organization meeting. It’s a great way to expand your network…and have a great meal.

Check out: Rotary, Lion's Club, Kiwanis or another organization that speaks to you.

Are you spending your time with like-minded leaders in the kind of service that means something to you?

Identify Your Core Strength

At the root of it all, what is your most indispensable quality?

If this question gives you pause…don’t worry, it’s supposed to.

The most rewarding questions you can ask yourself are the ones with elusive answers. If you're willing to chase them, you are already on your way to becoming a more effective leader.

Put in the work and figure out what your most indispensable quality is.

Why?

If you know what your core strength is – the thing (or things) that come easily and naturally to you, that you can do better than most anyone else – you can develop that strength and be disciplined in using  it to achieve your goals.

Too often, we put attention on our weaknesses, trying to get just a little bit better. Instead, activate your strengths, and results will follow.

When I am working with a client, one of my early objectives is to help them capture this white rabbit. Having a guide to help you navigate down the winding path of self-awareness is pivotal.

Most people have no clue what their “it factor” is.

Simply by knowing yours, you are at a major advantage.

Ask for help. What is clear to others may not necessarily be clear to you.

If hiring a coach is not a viable option for you, get creative. Look around at your resources. Identify the people in your life that you respect, and can trust to give you open an honest feedback. Think of candid friends, colleagues and mentors.

Reach out to them. Ask for their help in identifying your core strength. Most people are happy to share what they admire about you.