If Failure is Key to Success, Why Does No-One Talk About It?

I never thought this would happen . .

Everywhere you look, you see commentary and advice for “SUCCESS”.

It has probably always been this way, but I suspect the social media algorithms have something to answer for the explosion in these “success hacks” for life, relationships, health, career and business.

Largely this advice is a distraction and further fuel for procrastination. 

So why is it so prevalent?

• The “self-improvement” industry has grown fast, with the rise of the “content creator” and personal branding.
• The monetization of advice has turned expertise (and sometimes just the appearance of expertise) into a highly profitable business.
• Many increasingly trust content creators and influencers over traditional advertising, viewing them as trustworthy “guides”.  
• Just about anyone can now create a YouTube channel, TikTok or Instagram account, a LinkedIn profile to share “hustle” advice and “life hacks”.
• A major driver seems to be the fear of being seen as a failure by others . . .

Which brings me to my point.

Why do we never talk about “Failure”?

It is an integral, and necessary, part of the journey to achieving anything.

To do anything significant is not meant to be easy! 😉 

Michael Jordan, regarded by most as the greatest basketball player of all time, famously said;

• “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
• “I’ve lost almost 300 games.”
• “Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.”

James Dyson produced 5,126 failed vacuum prototypes.

Walt Disney was fired from a Missouri newspaper for “lack of imagination”.

Thomas Edison struggled through 1,000+ failed lightbulb experiments. 

J.K. Rowling, one of the most successful authors in history, fought through 12 rejections from publishers for the first Harry Potter book.   

So, to return to my opening comment, what is it that I thought would never happen?  

Getting “Failure Advice” from Ed Sheeran. 😉

But Kudos Ed, you nailed it.

A heartfelt human experience we can all identify with.

The human embodiment of “Execution Quotient” (XQ).

In a brief (1 minute, 40 seconds) extract from an interview with Howard Stern, he shares his own experiences, that might surprise you. They surprised me. He also observes;

• “Everyone shouts about successes but failure is seen as shame”.
• “You learn nothing from success. Nothing. You learn everything from the failures”.
• “Success happens from failing hundreds of times”.
• “The key to failure is trying to please everyone”. 
• “Failure is when we learn”.

It is thought provoking, reassuring and motivating. Especially in the darker moments when things are not going so well . . .

You ever have those feelings of self-doubt? They can last for a moment or a lifetime.

Yep, me too.

That’s why Ed’s words are worth listening to.

It is a great example of “self-belief”.

Don’t have a Plan B . . . 

In just 1 minute and 40 seconds, Ed Sheeran explains “Why Failure is Key to Success” here  . . .

You can listen to the 3 and half minute extended cut, with some wonderful moments where he shares his feelings that he had “no talent”, here . . .   

If Failure is Key to Success, Why Does No-One Talk About It?

Thanks for reading . . .