If you had to pick a group of favorite failings, you’d be hard pressed to keep the list small.  Failing is generally what precedes massive success.  In fact, its’ difficult to name a significant invention, person, or other creation, without discussing the failing that occurred right up to the moment of success.

     However, in an attempt to share with all of you, the importance of risk, and the necessity of failing, I present my favorites.  These are my top five from the bottom up.

5.     Don’t you dread being the last one picked?

     The odds of making a living playing sports at the highest level are astronomical.  Even those selected in the first few rounds of their respective sports, given healthy bonus checks, may never see life on the fields of major league professional sports.  Baseball in particular.

     In the major league draft, it has often been said that the first five rounds of picks are those with potential, the rest are chosen for them to practice with.  So, with each passing round, the odds are increasing astronomically against you ever being on the field in a major league ballpark.

     What do you suppose the odds would be if you were chosen after all the teams had picked 50 players?  What about 60?  That meant after 60 complete rounds of choosing, you weren’t even thought of.  Now, suppose in the 62^nd and final round on the last pick by the last team, they called your name.  And then it was only as a favor for your father.

    That pick actually happened in 1988.  The father was a friend of then manager Tommy Lasorda of the Dodgers and they chose a catcher who would certainly go against the odds.  So much so, that he is surely destined to be voted into baseball’s highest society – the Hall of Fame.  His name, Mike Piazza.  And even though he is number five on my list, his quote is the best at summing up what failing and succeeding are all about.

“I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong, I’m just trying to prove something to myself.”

4.     Be realistic.

     In the summer of 1969, our world became smaller.  In fact, we could see just how small it was when we looked at it from the moon.  After taking one giant leap for mankind, those of us who were watching it as it happened, thought of an earlier time.

     Just about seven years earlier a man predicted this would happen.  Even though our science hadn’t yet developed a rocket that could get us there, he said we would do it.  Without enough fuel to even make such a trip, he insisted we would achieve this task.  And, without even having enough men to make the trip, he had the foresight to insist this would be a reality.  Was he a psychic? 

     No.  John F. Kennedy was President of the United States.  At a time when the entire country needed to be inspired, he went beyond the known.  He dared to be unrealistic.  Most importantly, he insisted that it must be done.  President Kennedy did not predict the landing on the moon; he simply stated that we would, in no uncertain terms, accomplish this feat within a decade. 

     The lesson taught me the power of positive certainty.  There was never a sense of “maybe” or “perhaps” in his statement.  In fact, all of my goals start with the same, “We Will…” or rather “I will…”

3.      It’s never been done before.

     Knowing where you belong and what works best for you can go a long way toward a successful and satisfying life.  Preparing for that success and doing differently than those who went before you can cause a challenge.

     When his opportunity to compete in the Olympics finally came, he thought he was ready.  His training, mostly on his own, was different than was traditionally expected.  Yet, his history of winning performances made him a favorite to be victorious.  However, some things beyond our control can change that. 

     Due to a scheduling change, he was forced to race in an event without being able to rest between events.  In spite of this, he still managed a fourth place finish among the world’s elite runners.  Still, the press blamed his failing entirely on the fact that he “rejected” traditional training methods.

     In order to attain redemption, he decided he would simply break the world’s record.  In fact, he decided to achieve a mark that had never been accomplished before.  This would all take place while he was studying medicine, which only allowed him to train for 45 minutes per day.  He was convinced that slow and steady training would enable him to accomplish his goal.

     Using friends to support him by racing with him, he entered the competition.  After just four quarter mile laps, he broke the tape and the insurmountable mark.  3:59.4.  Six tenths of a second less than the four-minute mark that the world said couldn’t be broken.  Roger Bannister not only broke that world record, but, months later, broke it again by nearly another second.

     When asked about his choice of races, Sir Roger Bannister replied, “I found longer races boring.  I found the mile just perfect.”

2.     Kicked out of your own country.

     Sometimes, no matter how good your idea may be, no one will be open minded enough to listen.  In fact, you may have to leave your home and your country just to have a chance.  I’d love to have this guy on my sales team.  Christopher Columbus, had colossal setbacks, kept going, and even after a final huge mistake, is credited with greatness.

     After failing to get his Italian homeland to sanction his trip, which was designed to prove the earth was round, find a more direct route to the Far East, and increase trade, he left for Spain.  After some serious convincing, he was commissioned to go and discover this new route.  Since there was no real research to guide him, he failed.  Massively failed.  The result – America.

     Not bad for failing and refusing to quit.  Christopher Columbus proves that by continuing to follow a passionate dream will result in success beyond expectations.  For that, most people would have him as number one.  However, he set out with a specific purpose and that’s why my number one choice is…

1.     Don’t stick me with that

     Accidents happen.  That’s a fact of life.  Success can also happen by accident but don’t confuse this with luck.  Accidental success really occurs when you are striving to accomplish something, working towards a goal, or simply doing something to the absolute best of your ability, and then, it happens.

     Art Fry was a church going member of his choir.  During the week he worked for a company called 3M where he had been since college.  This company encouraged all of its employees to be thinking and stepping outside their comfort areas to encourage synergy.

    Art learned about one of the scientists “failed” attempt at a permanent adhesive.  In fact, the adhesive wasn’t very sticky at all.  You’d think that an adhesive that wasn’t very sticky, had little use for a company known for making Scotch Tape® and other glue products.  But Art had a problem at church.

     He kept losing his place in the hymnals during services and borrowed some of this adhesive to use with bookmarks. He liked that he could stick them in one spot and they would stay, or move them to another page without any problems.

     One day at work, Art used one of his bookmarks to make a note and stick it to a report.  Soon after he was inundated with requests for some of his sticky notepaper.  And, because of a failed experiment and the efforts to solve a non-work related problem, you’ve come to know Art’s creation by its famous name.  Post-It® Notes.  He stuck with his efforts of excellence and great things happened.

Don’t Debate

     The challenge with lists is that we can argue forever as to who should be placed where.  You may have other failing favorites who inspired you.  The Wright brothers, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Sam Walton, and so on.  These people, from all walks of life, had one thing in common that I hope will become part of you.  They were willing to give it one more try.  And they were committed to do it with excellence.

     The ability to fail is essential to succeed.  The fact that you’ve had some setbacks means something very important.  It means you’ve taken steps toward something.  Something you are passionate about.  Something you are willing to risk for.  The only thing that will separate you from your goals and dreams is whether you stand to try again or if you let an event take control of your future.

     The proof is in the list.  Whether you use my top five or you have your own favorites, the proof is right in front of you.  Those who have made it to a list have all achieved success in their lives.  They have that in common.  What they also have in common is that they experienced failure before success.  So, if you look at the ingredients:

          1 part goal and dream

          1 part risk

          1 part effort

          1 part failing

          Repeat as necessary

Result – Success!

     Now, take a look at where you are in all aspects of your life.  If you know the ingredients for success, then all you need to discover is which ones are missing from your life, add them and the rest is inevitable.

John Fuhrman is the Senior National Trainer for Carolina Automotive Resource Services, a unit of The Dealer Resource Group.  His ten books have reached 1.5 million readers and he has trained sales professionals around the world.  When your dealership needs amazing results when hiring new people, visit http://www.thedealerresourcegroup.webs.com.   ATTENTION DEALERS:  VISIT OUR WEB SITE AND REGISTER TO KEEP UP ON MONTHLY TRAINING SAVING SPECIALS.  Our trainers are ready to show you our "WOW!" factor.  (c)2011 by John Fuhrman - Permission to reprint this post in its entirety, including contact information, is hereby granted.