Fail Intentionally, I Dare you

Fail Intentionally, I Dare You.

Why is it so hard to convince ourselves that failure is a good thing and that we need it in order to grow?

In the latest O magazine issue, Elizabeth Gilbert mentions in her article that we try so hard to be so perfect – the perfect mom, perfect dad, perfect worker, perfect entrepreneur, etc…

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” -Sven Goran

We must stop and take a few minutes to understand how we can create the life we want by first trying… and then trying again.

Trying again. Like famous judge from American Idol Simon Cowell, when he failed his businesses at 30 years old, lost everything and had to move in with his parents. Now he is a successful business man and a multi-millionaire.

Trying again. Like Steve Jobs, who never finished college, got fired from his own company but still followed his intuition and ended up succeeding on his own terms.

Refusing to fail. Like closing a business down that you are no longer passionate about but because you refuse to fail, you continue to struggle.

Refusing to fail. Like letting go of some outside commitments that you no longer desire but have a strong belief you will fail others if you quit.

Seth Godin says in his latest blog –“16 questions for free agents” Is perfect important? (Do you feel the need to fail privately, not in public?)

Failing and doing things wrong is part of how we learn. How else would we contrast differences and lead lives that matter. If we continuously strive for perfection then we will never try anything new like learning a new language, starting a business, creating a new program offering or showing up at a networking event not knowing what you will say. I say fail intentionally because it takes the pressure off. It allows you to be really bad at something. It allows the mind to say “Well, I don’t care. I am going to do it anyway”. Even if the thing you write, draw, create or present isn’t perfect, at least you started it. You began the first step because you allowed yourself to fail.

So go ahead and try it. Fail intentionally, fail on purpose. I dare you.