
Article contributed by Karen S Sieczka
It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all. --Edward de Bono
As entrepreneurs, we have all failed at one time or another. An idea doesn’t pan out, a deal falls through, we get rejected by an important client, things don’t turn out as expected. We feel disappointed and sometimes we even feel hurt. Often, we want to throw in the towel. When this happens, we need to remember failure is an important part of the process of building success.
Failures can become turnarounds. Lee Iacocca brought the failing Chrysler company back from the brink of extinction in the 1980’s. Harry Truman failed miserably in many business ventures before becoming president of the United States. If these two had given up when things were tough, their names would be lost to history.
You probably know who James Dyson is. He is the guy who invented the extremely successful and popular bagless vacuum. It took him over 5,000 tries to get his design right but he used each failure to make improvements and move closer to his desired end result. We wouldn’t even recognize his name if he had thrown in the towel after the 10th failure or even the 4,999th failure!
Everyone knows who Colonel Sanders is. He concocted the secret herb and spice recipe that made the most famous fried chicken on the planet. He was rejected over 1,000 times before someone thought his recipe was finger licking good.
Look at the Wright brothers. How many times did they have to regroup before their airplane left the ground? Look at Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. They didn’t wait for the perfect search algorithm. They started the company and then refined the process as they went along.
Thomas Edison was known for the incandescent light bulb and first recording of music on a wax cylinder. He and his colleagues tried thousands of experiments, some miserable failures, some partial failures, some successes, but each attempt, each process brought something to the table, and sparked an idea or brought them closer to a solution for another puzzle.
Read biographies of famous people. Even among the most successful, most have felt the sting of miserable failures at one time or another. How did they react and move toward success? Focus on how they learned from the mistakes and moved onward and upward. How can you apply these lessons to your own life, career, and circumstances? Ponder this: do you accept defeat when something goes wrong or do you regroup and try again? How persistent are you?
You have to accept failures are part of the success experience. Mistakes often become the next great innovation. Vulcanized rubber was a mistake. Microwave oven technology was created by accident. Penicillin was the result of a failed experiment.
To be successful, you must reconcile with the possibility of failure. Being successful involves taking risks, and the possibility of failure, ridicule, disapproval, and disappointment. Be courageous. Everyone makes some mistakes. You may never figure out all the outcomes before you plunge into a project. So what? Do it anyway! If it fails, learn from it and try again!
Karen S. Sieczka is a training consultant and founder of Growing Great Ideas.com. Her latest training program is Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work. The program generates ideas, enthusiasm, and teamwork and can be customized to address particular organizational issues or challenges. This article was excerpted from the Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work book, now available at LULU.com for download or print version.
What a wonderful reminder that without failure, we will not be able to appreciate our successes!
Thanks for sharing!
Paula Y. Martin, Relationship Coach / Mediator
Martin Maximum Mediation, LLC
Posted by: Paula Y. Martin at November 4, 2008 9:37 PM
This is a great mood elevator - and something that makes you stop and think. I was having what I refer to an oodge day and reading this
was the perfect thing to get me going again!
Posted by: Moffat Welsh at November 7, 2008 5:34 PM
Add your own comments
Digg it
Save This Page
Subscribe to GetEntrepreneurial.com
Leave a comment
Next Article: Stop Sickies and Make People Happy At Work »
Previous Article: How Much Does a Franchise Cost? »
Marcel Sim is a GE Network Expert. View Marcel Sim's profile or read more articles from Marcel Sim. Learn more about the GE Experts Network.
Have an expert opinion on issues entrepreneurs and small business owners face
everyday?
Join the GetEntrepreneurial.com Experts Network and share your
expertise with the community!
The new
GE Experts Network is inviting seasoned entrepreneurs and small business
owners to come on board and contribute small business advice to our community of
aspiring entrepreneurs. If you have an effective way of generating sales or you
know how to use social networking to connect with your customers,
join us in
providing wider entrepreneurial content that would benefit small business owners
worldwide.
Cash In Minus Cash Out Does Not Equal Profit
10 Tips for Student-Entrpreneurs
How to Evaluate a Franchisor’s Training Program
Franchisor Support: What can you expect from your franchisor?
Why Sleep Is Not An Option!
Back to School Time Management
Top 10 Business Plan Myths of Solo Entrepreneurs
This article was posted to the category: Entrepreneurs. Click here to read more articles in this category.
Local Paper Wrapper » Inhabitat: Here’s a source for gift wrap paper that is as beautiful as it is eco-conscious. Known as The Local Paper, these...
Wine with Burgers » Iconoculture: It’s hard to speak pretentiously about terroir with secret sauce dripping down your chin. Los Angeles-based Learn About Wine’s Blind Date...
Reknit Your Old Sweater » Springwise: Each month, Reknit will unravel old sweaters and re-knit them into a different item; this January, it's scarves. Consumers begin by...
Marbling Art on Stone » Hurriyet Daily News: Saadet Erciyas, a female entrepreneur from İzmir, and her team are creating decorative products by using the marbling art...
Need more brand new promising business ideas and innovations around the world you wish you'd thought of? Visit CoolBusinessIdeas.com now!![]()


Ever wanted to be the CEO of your very own Starbucks or Amazon.com? Fire your boss and be your own boss? Now you can, with BIZNESS! - the free biweekly business newsletter about new business ideas, opportunities and innovations from around the world. More than just new business trends, BIZNESS! helps the aspiring entrepreneur (you!) with small business advice, business tips, and entrepreneur resources and opportunities.
Subscribe for free now! 
![]()
• Top Ways to Get a Fresh Business Idea Off the Ground
• What Is A Solo Entrepreneur?
• Four Ways to Save Time When Working From Home
• Selling the Customer What the Customer Needs
• Things to Consider before Starting a Business

Get cash now with a payday advance - Cash Converters can help you get on with your life.
Business Holiday Cards
Outsourcing Services
Roberts Dab Radios from Go Electrical
Top Franchise Opportunities
Best currency exchange rates on travel money
TV Brackets, TV Wall Brackets,TV Brackets Wall
TV Bracket, TV wall Bracket, TV Bracket Wall
LCD TV Brackets, LCD Wall Brackets, TV Brackets Wall
TV Wall Mounts, LCD Wall Mount, TV Brackets Wall
Digital Scales, Digital Scale, Pocket Scales
Online payday loans from Lending Stream
Payday Loans
Custom Floor Matting
Customized Business Gifts
Franchise Opportunities Free Search
Join Bettertrades to improve your life and increase your financial freedom. Watch Bettertrades video to learn more.
Uk payday loans deposited directly into your account today. QuickQuid serves the millions who have a poor credit rating.
Small Business Insurance from Aon