We’re programmed to avoid failure – or anything that comes close to it.
The consequences of failure can be pretty rough: hurt reputations, disappearance of opportunities, and even loss of relationships. Oh, and not to mention the financial repercussions. Failures can cost you more than pride.
But that’s troubling.
The stories I’ve most loved are centered around some sort of massive failure. The hero stumbles, falls, and rises again to do great things. We love an underdog who beats all odds to give us goose bumps, right?
Plus, innovation is typically born out of failure. Many of the things we use were born out of repeated failures. (Or successes, depending on your perspective.)
One of my favorite quotes is from Edison:
“I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
– Thomas A. Edison, inventor
That persistence, perseverance, and faith is incredible.
What I’ve learned through making movies – armed with nothing but blind ambition and a lot of passion – is that failure is actually a great source of freedom. It’s ironic, really, because I spent my whole life following the rules, keeping the peace, and desperately avoiding failure.
Failing is actually what really set me free.
When you come face to face with failure, you learn a few things about yourself:
- You’re more resilient than you think.
- Your worst case scenario might not be all that scary.
- What you own does not define you, nor does it bring true happiness.
- There are loved ones who stand beside you during dark, lean times.
- Knowing that you’ve failed gives you the confidence to take risks, try new things, and stand with confidence knowing you’ll bounce back again next time.
When I had a $100 to my name, almost lost the roof over my head, and all signs pointed to quitting, that’s when I dug my heels in. That was the breaking point for me. That’s when I got mad. If I was willing to come this close to the precipice, risking everything, then I should be willing to jump.
My mom has always had the John Burroughs quote on her fridge, “Leap and the net will appear.”
So that’s what I did.
Years later, I realize that the fears never go away and resistance to failure never dissipates.
What changes is our willingness to get comfortable with failure. We recognize that Ambrose Redmoon is right, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” Chasing your dreams is really scary, y’all.
There’s so much freedom on the other side of all those struggles, though.
There’s freedom knowing that I will die happy because I lived my life.
Sweet friends who have supported Brewconomy! Photo courtesy of ArtsNow NC.
I leaned into my greatest fears, forged my own path, and chased my dreams with reckless abandon. I got over myself. I learned to love troublemaking.
And I got comfortable with failure.
Your path will not be like mine (or anyone else’s) because it will be your path. Follow the clues. Discover the possibilities. Get comfortable with fear. Don’t bury that dream so deep down that it eats you alive. Put it out there in the open, where it can live and breathe and inspire others.
You can do it.