A quote that is commonly attributed to Thomas Edison is, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” This quote says a lot about his attitude regarding “failure.” He refused to see his non-successful experiments as failures; they were simply his process of getting to success. And thus it should be for each of us. We try, learn what doesn’t work, make adjustments and try again.
If you are in the middle of learning what doesn’t work – be encouraged. If you are adjusting and trying again, you may be right on the verge of your big breakthrough. If you are repeating the same thing over and over again, stop doing that.
Be sure to read the first article here and the quotes below.
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Last week I did a phone and web simulcast titled Outta Work but Finding Myself. We’ve had a lot of requests for that 48-munute replay. Here’s the link – just click and listen: Outta Work but Finding Myself.
********************************* ”It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” -- Theodore Roosevelt
48 Days Podcast listener Josh Bulloc asks: I have studied many entrepreneurs and successful people and most of them have gone through some sort of life trial which I correlate to becoming successful. I am concerned that I am not going to do well because I have not gone through that learning experience (yet). Your thoughts please.
We hear a lot about the failures of people who are ultimately very successful. I’ve certainly talked openly about my personal business flops on my way to where I am today. Many of you are familiar with Dave Ramsey and his big crash in real estate that set the stage for him to help others avoid those same mistakes and in the process recapture and surpass his former wealth.
So should we be helping people avoid mistakes? Are we preventing those people from experiencing their ultimate success? Are we prolonging the inevitable? Will their safe path now confine them to mediocrity rather than astounding success?
How do you view failure in your own life? Do you avoid it at all costs?
One of the most important lessons I ever learned regarding failure was in an illustration from Robert Schuller that I heard many years ago. He said to think about an athlete jumping a high bar. As long as that athlete clears the bar we really don’t know how good he/she is. It is only when the bar is tripped (failure) that we have an accurate measurement of how good that athlete really is.
I want to know how high I can go. So that opens the door wide open for potential risks and failure. But if I fail I simply have a measurement of what I am capable of. As long as I am always successful I fear I may have set the bar far too low.
And that seems to be the major difference between high achieving people and average people – their response to failure.
Josh, I would never suggest that you create your own failure – just to get it over with. Trust me; if you are doing anything extraordinary, failure will find you. But then don’t bury your head in the sand. How we fail is at least as important as how we succeed.
I say push yourself; fail often. Push yourself to the limits sense. And then go one step further. Your failures will release your creativity and innovation more than education and careful planning can ever do.
********************************* “The one person to distrust is the one who never makes a mistake. Either he is a phony, or he stays with the safe, the tried, and the trivial.” -- Peter Drucker
Which is more important – the degree you get from a university or the learning itself? If you just want the piece of paper you have to pay dearly. If you agree that the education is more important, then congratulations. You can get that with no cost at all. How could you change your opportunities and your lot in life if you got the same knowledge that a UC Berkeley graduate paid $120,000 for? If there were no cost and you could go as quickly as you liked, would you take advantage of the training – or will you look up 2 years from now and realize you are in the same place?
Podcast listener James Cook passed along this information about free online college and university courses: Here's a list of the top 10 universities offering open courses.
You’ll see UC Berkeley at the top of the list. Ranked as the #1 public school in the United States, Berkeley offers podcasts and webcasts of amazing professors lecturing. Each course has an RSS feed so you can track each new lecture. For printable assignments and notes you can check the professors homepage,
And here’s another new university that offers all of their programs without cost. Shai Reshef, the multimillionaire founder, believes that everyone should have access to education, but without socialization or funding from the government.
The University of the People is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing universal access to quality, online post-secondary education and is comprised of numerous volunteers from all around the world. Many of these volunteers are regular members of university departments; others are active professionals - business administrators, librarians, computer programmers, economists and educators.
Our fundamental belief is that all people, world-wide, should have the opportunity to change their lives and contribute to their communities, as well as understanding that the path to societal and individual prosperity is through education.
We are confident that our collective efforts as volunteers can be decisive in developing and executing the programs through which many people all over the world will have the opportunity to receive higher education.
Yes you really can get most any education you want – and can most certainly design your future. Now decide what you want your life to be like 5 years from now.
"You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." - Charlie "Tremendous" Jones
Each week I read though the questions submitted to select a few to respond to in this recorded podcast. One of the ones this week was the question in article #1 above:
Do I have to “fail” to be successful?
I am a teacher and have a good salary and benefits, but I honestly am questioning whether what I am doing is what God wants me to do. I have read No More Mondays and 48 Days To the Work You Love, and I am really wondering what all the hype is really about. Are these goals of finding yourself based in reality, meant for only a few, our just a gimmick? I do not want to doubt what you are saying, but I really have difficulty thinking that this program is based in the reality of today's economic situation.
I am 39 years old with a Psychology degree I have never used. When I graduated, I realized that while getting an education was a good thing, I never knew what I wanted to do with my life. I have now begun job searching once again but find myself in the same position I was in when I graduated.
I have been working at a job for about 2 years, and I’m completely miserable. The pay is decent and also the benefits/yearly bonus. I’m scared to leave the "security" of my regular "job."
I have studied many entrepreneurs and successful people and most of them have gone through some sort of life trial which I correlate to becoming successful. I am concerned that I am not going to do well because I have not gone through that learning experience (yet). Your thoughts please.
I worked as a Registered Nurse from 1969 – 1993 and then I became disabled. Now I am well and have been having a hard time getting a job I like in nursing. I took a refresher course, but they all want recent experience. I am working 11 PM to 7 AM in a job I don’t like and I’m afraid the hours are bad for my health. I am considering a different type of work so that I can get on days. Do you have any suggestions?
I currently work as a chiropractor. Have been quite miserable for a few years now. Most facets of my job I hate, while I do enjoy building relationships, helping and teaching patients about many health related topics. I work as an employee and am very rushed for my personality type, after taking your test I realized exactly why I felt this way. I've considered changing career fields drastically - I am a professional, have excellent interpersonal skills, am very detail oriented but don't know where to look as far as other career fields are concerned.
********************************* If you have a question, just email me at askdan@48Days.com and you can ask about starting your own business, getting a better job, or finding your purpose in life.
And you can click the link below to listen to this week’s broadcast immediately – no downloading – no wait.
Lead the 48 Days Seminar
Are you someone who just naturally provides hope and encouragement? Would you like to help more people know the 48 Days principles? My daughter Ashley and I are offering a one-day training program here at the Sanctuary on September 11th to help anyone who wants to be ready to lead this six-week program. We'll provide you with a complete set of leader instructions, DVDs, and the confidence to begin sharing immediately. The one in May filled up very quickly. We’d love to work with you! Count me in
********************************* 101 Reasons to Love a Recession
My friend Ernie Zelinski has another free and entertaining 108-page illustrated E-book designed to entertain you as well as show you the many benefits of the current recession. On page 15 you’ll read the old Chinese proverb: “My house burnt down, but now I can see the moon.” Ernie is the author of the International Bestseller The Joy of Not Working. (Over 225,000 copies sold and published in 17 languages) Just click here to get your copy of 101 Reasons to Love a Recession
********************************* Coaching with Dan
Many of you ask if I still coach people individually. Yes, I do. Feel like all you're doing is failing? Maybe I or one of our coaches can help you see some new ways of moving forward. See the details here: Coaching with Dan
********************************* 48Days.net
By now most of you know about 48Days.net. This is different than 48Days.com. At 48Days.net you’ll see lots of other excited people who have ideas – and they’re willing to share those with you to help your business grow and profit. If you want your life to be different this year, get involved with people who are on the same path. There is no cost – just lots of helpful people and resources.
********************************* What "fits" you?
How do my parts fit together?
The most popular product in the 48 Days arsenal continues to be the 48 Days Career Profile. Before you begin seeking a better job or self-employment, you need to be sure you are pursuing opportunities that match your personality style and will fulfill and reward you for a lifetime!
“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes.” – John Dewey
“I've missed more than 9,000 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.” – Michael Jordan
“Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore let us be extremely patient with each other's faults and failures.” – Mother Teresa
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy
“Good people are good because they've come to wisdom through failure. We get very little wisdom from success, you know.” -- William Saroyan
“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them.” -- Washington Irving
"Most success springs from an obstacle or failure. I became a cartoonist largely because I failed in my goal of becoming a successful executive." -- Scott Adams
“You always pass failure on the way to success.” -- Mickey Rooney
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” -- Henry Ford
How do my parts fit together?
