The feeling in my stomach was gut-wrenching. I was paralyzed with sadness and the tears welled up.
When was it going to end??
I am smart, I am educated and I just keep failing.
What’s wrong with me??
If you’ve experienced something like this you are BY FAR not alone.
It feels like you are completely alone but you are actually completely normal.
Rosabeth Kanter, an HBS professor and editor of the Harvard Business Review, once gifted me one of the great insights into business and life.
She said: EVERY PROCESS LOOKS LIKE A FAILURE IN THE MIDDLE.
Once I understood this the crazy emotions disappeared and I was able to get back up quite easily and keep going.
Here are 5 other truths that saved me from the pits of despair:
- The media is a lie. → All those 30-year olds who sold their company for a bazillion times failed time and time again too.
- Ask for help. → It’s easier to fail when your friends have your back.
- Have many plans. → Since now you know failure is an integral part of the process… have a plan C and D also.
- Take a break. → Your head will get clearer and you will have a better sense of what needs to be done.
- Reframe failure. → Do not ever forget that failure is an integral process for success.
Now that you know the truth, what are YOU going to do differently next time you fail?
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