Michael Jordan on Failure

One of my personal favorite television commercials is one with Michael Jordan and his musings on success.  To quote, Michael Jordan says:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

There is a lot we can learn from Michael Jordan - and that goes well beyond how to dunk from the free throw line or how to ignite and enthrall a crowd.  Michael’s message is one of persistence. 

Motivation & Success

When I wrote my original article 4 Qualities of Motivated People, I spoke of four characteristics that people considered to be ‘motivated’ by the general public repeatedly had.  These characteristics are commitment, being purpose driven, social and confident.  If I were to write another article entitled the 4 Qualities of Successful people (rather than motivated), the #1 quality that I would add to this similar list would be that of relentless persistence.  Michael Jordan demonstrated a relentless persistence when it came to being the best ever in basketball.  He was committed, purpose driven, social and 100% confident.  He was so confident that his numerous failures (as depicted in his quote above), never stopped him from moving forward towards his goals. 

Seeing Failures as Stepping Stones

Many people frame failures in such a way that they prevent them from progressing.  Often we view failures as a personal loss.  Whenever someone brings up that particular failure in conversation, a negative energy surrounds the topic and people often say ‘I’ll NEVER do that again…’.  Not a lot of room for possibility. 

Others frame them in an even more harmful way.  They internalize the failure and relate it to their own self worth.  Clearly this is dangerous and unnecessary.  Even the greatest successes of all time have been produced as a result of failures built upon failures.  For those persistent enough, a final imperfect offering eventually renders a satisfactory amount of success - perhaps equal or better to what was envisioned, perhaps not. 

The reality is - if you are alive, you are going to fail on many occasions.  No one is immune, we are only human.  Failure, imperfection, all of our flaws are what make us ‘perfectly’ human. 

Guaranteeing Success

There is, however, one way that we can completely eliminate the possibility for failure.  This is by taking it out of our vocabulary.  Embrace the belief that there are no failures, there are simply stepping stones on the path towards success.  Imagine the business owner that had to shut down operations.  Whether he believe it is a failure or a stepping stone, the operations will stop either way.  After that point he can choose to pursue the same or alternate business, or he can give up.  If you find yourself in this situation (or a similar one) choose the approach that you would like to embrace. 

Can you actively learn, evolve and grow from the experiences of life or will you let these experiences dictate how you will be and the actions that you will take?  This is a big question to come face to face with and your capacity to guide your future is intricately related to your response to this question.  Recognize the choice that you have in the matter. 

In sports, often times the best players have lost much more than the average player.  Their longevity often accounts for what some might consider a horrendous loss record, but their approach and mentality supports them in seeing the successes as bigger than the losses and their purpose and goal is more exciting to them then the hurdles they must step over to make them happen. 

Questions to ask yourself

1. How do I respond when confronted with a small, medium or large setback? 
2. How would I like to respond when confronted with a small, medium or large setback?
3. How would the most successful person in my industry respond to the same small, medium or large setback? 
4. If a setback has already occurred, what has my response been (write it down)?
5. Is my response moving me forward or producing an aura of failure?
6. What can I learn from the setback that will propel me forward in my next venture? 
7. In this very moment can I truthfully give thanks for the setback it has occurred?  (When you can do this, you are living the concept)

Embrace the reality that there are no such things as a failures, there are only stepping stones which take us towards our dreams and your goals will brighten up with possibility, and your failures will wash away into the depths of your memory. 

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Be Well

Related Articles:

• 4 Qualities of Motivated People
• 10 Steps to Success - Step 9 Consciously Learn, Evolve and Grow

Written by Doug Nau, The Wellness Coach, i-grow.net