A Better Way

 by JenniferWhite, President, The JWC Group

Broadcast of 3/5/99

Subject: Inspired By Failure

A BETTER WAY
A nationally syndicated column
by Jennifer White
jencoach@successu.com

TODAY'S TOPIC: INSPIRED BY FAILUREI've been inspired this week ­ by failure.

I know. That seems like a strange thing to be inspired by. But this week, I've been inspired because two of my clients have failed. Inspired because they still have the courage and the audacity not to let their mistakes destroy them.

Okay, I must confess. Many of my clients double their income, reach tremendous goals, grow into powerful leaders and do miraculous ­ amazing ­ things. Every time they succeed, I'm inspired. But today, I'm touched by the way these two people have kept their heads held high in the midst of chaos, frustration and failure.

These two are phenomenal salespeople who have the ability to make friends with anyone instantly. They have strong communications skills and could sell ice cubes (ital) and (end ital) a Frigidaire to the Eskimos. They are bold, courageous and are more powerful than they even know.

In the last 18 months, both of them decided to open new offices in the hopes of creating a lucrative profit center. (They spent many years as top-producing independent sales reps.) They were looking for the time and money freedom they thought would come from expanding their businesses. Anyone who's ever built a company with employees knows how hard this journey can be. Yet they were both up to the challenge.

This week, both clients have faced the fact that they aren't willing to change who they are to get success in this new arena. Who they need to be in order to build a profitable, multi-person company takes qualities and skills that aren't their natural gifts. So instead of trying to be something they're not, they have decided to throw in the towel.

Please don't misunderstand. In both instances, these clients are in growing industries with great potential for profit. They're not failing because they started something that has no chance of succeeding. Both are high achievers. They can create anything they want in their lives. But the price they were paying to grow their new profit centers became too high.

That's what has inspired me. To the outside world, they will look like they failed. In a big way. But I know better, and so do they. What they've done is listened to their hearts and made tough choices in order to find more fulfillment and joy in their lives.

Rather than keep pushing and struggling with their new ventures, they've decided to close up shop. Go back to being a super salesperson, a lone ranger. Give up the offices, let their staff go, lose money and simplify their lives so they are back in control. They are committed to discovering another way to create time and money freedom. They simply knew when to say enough is enough.

Do you have the courage that my clients do? Knowing when to admit you've made a mistake ­ and knowing when to keep on keeping on ­ are crucial skills you must learn if you want to create a richly satisfying career or business. You'll never learn that crucial skill if you're unable to try and risk failure.

The freedom to fail gives you the opportunity to succeed. Failure forces you to pay attention. To really figure out what is going on so you can make it work. Failure allows you to make the changes you need to make. And learning how to love your failures ­ to take risks in your life ­ allows you to be free.

Are both of my clients rejoicing in their failures? Of course not. At least not right now. Yet both are looking at their experiences as a way to evolve, learn and grow. They weren't afraid to try. And they aren't afraid to admit when it wasn't working.

That's why I'm inspired this week. My clients' resilience to live to their full potential ­ to live large ­ is a shining example of how I want to live mine.

Can you say the same thing about your life?

Copyright 1999, Jennifer White

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