"There is no failure except in no longer trying." - Chris Bradford
The only fault in falling down is not getting back up. Failures are imminent in any career. In fact many very successful individuals will credit failure as a key factor in their ability to go so far. When you don't fear failure, you are more likely to take risks and achieve results you never imagined.
But taking a hit can be hard. Any failure, from losing a client to making a bad investment, can sting. Luckily there are ways you can adapt and move forward that make rebounding much easier. Keep these tips in mind next time things don't pan out exactly how you wanted.
1. Be empowered by failure, not paralyzed.
Failure can shut some people down, discouraging them and causing them to second guess their abilities. Rather than let failure stop you in your tracks, look to it as motivation to push harder. Let today's loss remind you of how much harder you want to work the next time around.
2. Look for the wins among losses.
It's always beneficial to look for the good in a bad situation and this outlook applies perfectly to failure. Amidst a notable loss there are almost always a few wins. Maybe the goal you set out for didn't work out, but what did you gain? Familiarity of a new industry? New connections? A new outlook? Focusing on the benefits of your endeavor, rather than the less than ideal results, gives you a clear perspective on the true benefits of taking chances.
3. Redefine your meaning of the word failure.
Failure is subjective to the person -- in other words, what one might see as a failure another person may not. Your association with the word probably stems from grade school when you would receive an "F" for scoring below a certain percentage, or in sports when a low score resulted in a loss for your team. In real life, especially in business, the lines are not so clear. By simply shifting the way you view the term, you can completely remove all negative connotation of failure and stop fearing it as possible outcome.
4. Practice makes perfect.
Remember the first time you rode your bike? My guess is it probably didn't go so well. Many things in life require perseverance and practice. With each attempt comes greater skill and ability, which can only lead to an improvement. Don't look at a failure singularly. Look at failure as a step towards success -- and a necessary one at that.