If at first you don’t succeed
Have you ever attempted something and failed?
Have you ever let fear of failure stop you from trying something?
Which did you regret more?
I hope it was the chance not taken.
Amazing facts about the world’s biggest failures
- Walt Disney went bankrupt…several times.
- Thomas Edison tried more than 6,000 materials as the filament in a light bulb before he found one that worked.
- The notes from Fred Astaire’s first screen test said, “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.”
- Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times.
- Winston Churchill failed sixth grade and lost every public election he entered until he was elected Prime Minister at age 62.
- Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime.
- The manager of the Grand Ole Opry fired Elvis Presley and told him he ought to go back to driving a truck.
- Albert Einsten was refused admittance to Zurich Polytechnic School.
- F.W. Woolworth wasn’t allowed to wait on customers at his job in a feed store because he “didn’t have enough sense.”
- In his junior year, Michael Jordan failed to make the high school varsity basketball team.
- Charles Goodyear began experimenting with rubber while in debtor’s prison.
- JK Rowling applied for welfare benefits, describing her economic status as being “poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.”
Source: Fail Better, a book by Herter Studio, Running Press, Philadelphia, London
Your turn
- Are you courageous enough to share one of your failures with us and the lessons learned?
- Is there something you’ve been wanting to try? Share it with us and we’ll be your accountability and support system.
- What else is on your mind today? Anything at all. I just love hearing from you.
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Shared on the GRAND Social, #MLSTL, and Blogger’s Pit Stop.
Image by symphonyoflove from Pixabay
What an inspiring post, Christie! I agree that practice and perseverance make a huge difference. My list of things that I failed at the first time is too long to include here! 😀
Me too Donna! That’s why I love the quote: “I never lose. I either win or I learn.” I do a lot of learning. 🙂
I agree with you and Donna, this is an inspiring post reminding those who have failed or are afraid of failing to never give up!!
I’m trying to be more willing to be vulnerable and allow my beginner attempts to be seen; to not worry so much about looking foolish.
Hi Christie, I’m loving your posts and videos and the direction you are taking with your blog. One of my strengths is that although sometimes I need to step back or my goal seems impossible I don’t give up. It might take longer to achieve the goal but I eventually do. I love the quote you have used because it is so true. Failure is something we all need to experience because through that we do learn. Thanks for starting my Wednesday at #MLSTL in such a motivating way. Have a lovely week and I’ve shared on SM. xx
Thank you for the kind words, Sue. That is a great strength to have–the ability to rest, reassess, and move forward. As you know, I love #MLSTL and your blog. Thanks as always!
Failure – mmmh – Isn’t it amazing how many people – famous just kept on trying and eventually succeeded. I like to think it as “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”
Sometimes failure is good because we can look at ourselves and change direction.
I have had to change direction so many times life brings up some curveballs. Thank you for a great post again xx #mlstl
Hello Bree. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You are so right–glory is in rising every time we fall. When something isn’t working out the way we thought, or life throws us a curveball, it’s the perfect time to reassess, make adjustments, and try again in another way. I’ve had lots of those curveballs in my life as well. I guess you live long enough that happens. Some of us seem to get a few more than others–or maybe we just don’t see all of theirs.
Was it Edison or Einstien who said he hadn’t failed, he’d just worked out over a 100 ways that didn’t work….#MLSTL
Hello Lydia. It was Edison–and it was 10,000 ways–now that’s persistence! (I only know that because I Googled it.) 🙂
Life without mistakes and failures would be boring… and wouldn’t make for very interesting stories.
So true Janis. And so often a failure at one thing leads us in another more rewarding (and interesting) direction.
I enjoyed reading this inspirational list of failures Christie. I can remember failing at Yoga. My goodness I was hopeless. At the end of a beginners term I definitely wasn’t ready to go up to the next level. Of course I was basing my failure on the success of others. I now do yoga at home and love it. I’m still hopeless but don’t care. #MLSTL Sharing
I love this, Jennifer. It brings out a good point: often feelings of failure come from the “compare and despair” mindset. I’m glad you didn’t give up and just took your yoga practice to a more comfortable place. I also do my yoga at home and love it. I’m pretty sure I’m killing it (not), but there is no one there to tell me different. 🙂
I hate failure – it’s the perfectionist in me I’m afraid. I often won’t attempt something if I think it will fail – and that’s to my detriment. I wish I was braver, but I think I’m a play-safe kind of gal and will always err on the side of not taking risks. If I’d failed as badly as some of those famous people, I’d have thrown in the towel well before I found success.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
I understand Leanne. I’ve been that way most of my life, and to a certain point, I’ve decided I’m not the devil-may-care risk-taking type, and in order to be my authentic self I need to accept that. I’m never going to jump out of airplanes, play competitive sports, or invest all my money in high risk/high return stocks. On the other hand, if there is something that I truly want to do that scares me (like blogging or making videos), it’s worth the risk of looking foolish or even falling flat on my face. If you look at it that way, Leanne, you’ve made some pretty courageous moves, like quitting a job that wasn’t working for you and, of course, putting it all out there in your blog for the world to see. I’m glad you did. Thanks!
That was a really helpful way to look at it Christie – I feel braver already – maybe I’m not as risk adversive as I’d assumed – with age comes the willingness to do what feels right 🙂
I’m glad I could inspire a new perspective, Leanne. You do that for me all the time. 🙂
Surely everyone has tried something that hasn’t quite come off as planned. I have written a young adult fiction manuscripts, which has come tantalisingly close to publication a couple of time (including one acceptance from a major publisher that evaporated with a takeover of the publishing house and a subsequent takeover). Ugh! So close! That was many years ago, and now I have another (better) manuscript that’s much better yet only 90% complete. I’ve moved onto other things now though so it’s gone on the back burner. Maybe I should resurrect it? Currently chasing travel writing publications, which is going quite well.
Do you think this will hold me accountable?
Hello Christine. I hope you are right that everyone has had something that didn’t work out–surely, I’m not the only one! 🙂 In all seriousness, true growth comes when we get uncomfortable. If we only do what we’re good at–or make the safe choices–we’ll never know what we could have done, and we won’t learn anything new. I can definitely relate to having a manuscript that is 90 percent there and then putting it on the back burner. I just can’t seem to finish mine. Life keeps taking me in other directions. In your case, travel writing sounds like an exciting direction! I’m so happy to hear that it’s going well.
I don’t give up once I get started, but I am a perfectionist, and I have to admit fear of failure, sometimes prevents me from trying something new. Thanks for a great post that reminds us all to be inspired by the greats, and to keep on trying, no matter what.
Hello Christina. When I was hesitating about starting something I was interested in, but wasn’t sure I could successfully launch or would even enjoy as much as I thought I would, a coach helped me look back on abandoned projects or things that I considered failures and dissect what I had learned from those experiences and how the knowledge and skills I had developed from those experiences were still with me today, helping me succeed in other areas. It gave me a whole new perspective on trying something new.
Hi Christie, we (my husband and I) are currently looking for ways to keep us financially viable after we leave our jobs and our current country next April. An online shop we’ve started is a ‘non-starter’, but I’m trying not to give up. I get up everyday, go to my job, and then when I have some free time I read about online businesses and shops and try to use social networks to my advantage. I’ll not give up, but it’s very hard to stay positive. Thanks for the post! 🙂
I imagine running your own business would take a lot of nerve, Cheryl. I haven’t yet attempted that. I wish you the best of luck. I’ll be rooting for you!
Thank you so much, Christie! I’ll just think of you now when I feel like giving up. x
Ah thanks Cheryl. I hope it helps. You got this!
I love that inspirational list! I tend to be a play-it-safe kind-of girl and only do things I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to do. I’m starting to try things now with the belief that just engaging in the activity is “success”. So, in that case, there can not be “failure”. But in general, I try to avoid the feeling of failure. Failure sparks my Imposter Syndrome and a lot of negative emotion.
I love that way of thinking, Pat. The action itself is the success!
Ah, so inspiring and just what I needed. I am so impatient and it’s hard when results don’t come quickly enough.
When I started in real estate at age 53 I didn’t have a single transaction for almost 6 months. It was terrible and I wanted to quit and I started to have anxiety and self doubt. I’m so glad I stuck with it because I absolutely love this occupation and I’m doing just fine.
I’ve shared on my sm and am visiting from #MSTL
I’m glad this post resonated with you, Theresa. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sure it will be inspirational for others who are struggling with something new, and it isn’t happening as quick as they’d like it to. I’m happy for you that you found an occupation you love. Enjoy!
Fabulous info here Christie about those who have been courageous to keep on going despite things not working out at first. I have lots of these moments in my life but I like to think I’ve built resilience to keep on going.#mlstl
Thanks Deb. From what I’ve seen, you definitely have resilience.
These days I am far less concerned about success than ‘giving it a go’. I am more content to try processes and if the product doesnt work out, then move on. It’s all about the learning. I am like this in my creative pursuit of art and I love the forgiveness I own rather than the retribution that may have been present a few years ago.
Great topic!
Denyse #mlstl
That’s beautiful Denyse. After all, living happens in the process, right? I love your choice of words: that you own forgiveness rather than retribution. Lovely.
Thanks Christie for this post. I had to chuckle about your list of Amazing facts about the world’s biggest failures. To add to it is Wayne Dyer. He tried to get a publisher for his first book, but after 250 rejections published the book himself. The book was “Your Erroneous Zones (1976),” and is one of the best-selling books of all time, with an estimated 35 million copies sold to date. Thanks for sharing. Will reshare on SM. Have a great day.
Isn’t that amazing. I also remember hearing that the creator of FedEx used the business plan for a thesis (or something like that) and received a “C.” There’s a lesson in there for all of us! Thanks for sharing Wayne Dyer’s experience.
You’re welcome Christie. Pretty sure there are many other failure/success stories we’ve never heard about. Have a weonderful day.
I’m sure that’s true, Nancy. I’d love if people shared stories they’ve heard or about people they know.
I love this post, Christie! My philosophy (usually) is to not be afraid to try new things. I often hear how even in recent years, people who are very successful at what they do have failed countless times beforehand. I know there are many things I have not been great at in my life, although, I don’t think I really use the word “failure.” They have always been a “lesson.” Thanks for making me think, Christie. I wonder what “lessons” are ahead of me? #MLSTL and shared SM
I agree Erica about not using the word failure–except maybe when talking about overcoming the fear of failure. I love the quote that says, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.” How perfect of a mindset is that?
Among my greatest failures are my marriages and my relationships with step-children. I wanted to help my former husbands, save them, make everything better in their lives but that is a poor foundation for a marriage.
The same applies to my step-children. I wanted to mother them, do everything for them that I didn’t see their own mothers doing but the bottom line is, a child wants mothering from his or her own mother. You can be their friend, a responsible adult in their lives but it is very hard to become the surrogate mother.
Leslie, first of all, thank you for your personal, vulnerable response. That takes courage indeed. I also have a failed marriage. When I look at what I got from that marriage and what I learned, I have to admit it wasn’t a complete failure, even though it ended in divorce. I got two beautiful daughters and I learned what I want in a relationship and how to be a better partner. It sounds like you learned some similar lessons. I can’t really regret anything in my life, since it all came together to make me who I am today and bring me to this life that I love. I hope you feel the same.
Those failure facts are so interesting, and hysterical! Wow! What an inspirational read.
Isn’t it amazing, Amy? We always think about the incredible things these people have accomplished and forget that they had challenges along the way too. If they’d been worried about looking silly or failing, we would all have missed out on their gifts to the world.
When I was teaching in the classroom I always talked to my students about the failures of famous scientists to encourage them to take a risk. Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Thank you Roseann. It’s such an important lesson in life, I’m happy to hear you shared it with those just starting out. And thanks for hosting The Blogger’s Pit Stop. Enjoy your week!
I so love this Christie, we will give it a feature on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop.
KATHLEEN
Thank you Kathleen! It’s always an honor to be featured on the Blogger’s Pit Stop!