When we talk about success strategies, do we have to bring in the concept of failure? To find an answer to this question, look at this example.
A senior executive working for a big company suddenly found himself thrown out of the job, after the company he worked for, collapsed, after struggling for a few years.
He applied to many companies but was being tuned down because of the stigma of failure attached to him by virtue of his association with a failed company.
He kept trying with various companies.
He was called for an interview by a multinational company.
He attended the interview expecting the obvious result but to his pleasant surprise, he was selected.
He was chosen over several other well experienced candidates and was offered a senior position with a remuneration befitting his seniority.
The reason: That company attached a high value to his failure experience.
Failure is a part of life.
It is a kind of experience just as success is of another kind.
But it is an experience which no one will like to have.
If you are driving a car, you would like the drive to be smooth.
You wouldn't like to get caught in any traffic snarl.
But it sometimes happens that you are trapped in traffic and your progress is halted..
You don't get frustrated, stop the car on the way and settle down there.
On the other hand, once you are out of the traffic congestion, you will drive with a redoubled vigor to make up for the lost time and with a determination to reach the destination in time.
You will also make a mental note of this experience and when you have to travel on the same road again in future, you will plan things in such a way that you will not be caught in a traffic congestion.
To achieve this objective, you may use a wide variety of strategies ranging from choosing a different time to a different route.
Compare this to what people do when they face a problem or a failure.
They conclude that it is the end of the road for them (no pun intended!) They do not feel motivated to try the same activity again.
They make no attempt to learn from their failures.
Most of the people do one of these things: 1) Rationalize: They justify their failure using the power of reasoning.
By trying to sound rational, they avoid taking responsibility for the failure and thus miss a chance to develop and improve.
2) Blame Others: Nothing can be more satisfying than putting the blame for our failures on others.
By blaming other people, circumstances and even fate, you deceive yourself that you are not responsible for your failure.
Unfortunately, this kind of putting the blame on others for the results we get, creates an unconscious belief within you that you are not in control of your life.
This belief will affect your future performance severely.