The POWER of FAILURE

What a motivational way to start a new day, isn’t it? 😀

Yes, but it leads to something important you need to hear, so bear with me!

Do you know what one of the biggest regrets at the deathbed is? Many people regret not having the courage to pursue their dreams or take risks that could have led to a more fulfilling and creative life.

How is this connected to failure? The fear of failure holds us back from trying out the most surreal, craziest, yet exciting things because we think, “We’re not good enough anyway, so we won’t even try.” Or, “I don’t see the entire road in front of me for this or that idea, so I’m definitely going to fail because I have no clue what and how I’m going to achieve this.” Or, “I’m afraid it’s too late, and I have no time for failures.”

Let’s break those down ⬇️

❌ Negative Statement:

“We’re not good enough anyway, so we won’t even try.”

✅ Positive Corner:

We have our own unique vision and talents that make us capable of achieving whatever we dream of. NO ONE IS US. Every step we take, regardless of the outcome, is progress and a learning opportunity. The journey is more important than reaching the goal. The goal itself can actually be pretty boring. So, the goal is reached - what’s next? But now, think about the whole journey that led you to this moment.

❌ Negative Statement:

“I don’t see the entire road in front of me for this or that idea, so I’m definitely going to fail because I have no clue what and how I’m going to achieve this.”

✅ Positive Corner:

During one of our monthly LIVE coaching calls in a business PRO mentorship I’m part of, Ryan Serhant told us that one of the most crucial aspects that differentiate successful people from those who aren’t there yet is knowing that… NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY’RE DOING. The sooner you understand this, the better.

Honestly, I also don’t really know what the heck I’m doing, but I keep doing this anyway and trying various things that don’t seem rational at the moment. My gut tells me DO IT, and I follow it like a dog chasing its own tail (too many TikTok videos about dogs and cats :D ).

Okay, let’s move on to the third statement.

❌ Negative Statement:

“I’m afraid it’s too late and I have no time for failures.”

✅ Positive Corner:

Here, I have to paraphrase a brilliant example from one of my favorite podcasts, Mindset Mentor. Say you’re 40 and think it’s too late, that you have spent so much time doing this, and starting something new doesn’t guarantee success. You think you’ll definitely fail.

Okay, let’s imagine that the average life expectancy is about 80 years. So, you’re telling us that you’re going to spend the other 40 (!) years doing what you don’t like anymore because you already spent 20 years of your life doing it? The first 10 years are full of development, and the next 10 are crazy teenage years figuring life out. Okay, the process of figuring life out never ends. So, you’re going to spend more time in this job than you’ve already spent in it because of fear of failure?

That hit me hard. Really! At the age of 23, I was told I was too old to start over and become a full-time interior designer and illustrator. 

At. The. Age. Of. 23. 

Before, in case you didn’t know,  I was a journalist and got my B.A. in this field.

Believe me, after hearing this, I, an inexperienced young lady, was VERY UPSET.

Now, the mature me is thinking, who the hell were those people to even allow them to tell me this? To project their own freaking insecurities onto me? To feel powerful knowing I couldn’t object? Writing this and literally crying because the younger me didn’t have any mentor or someone to lift her up and point her in the right direction.

So, f**k all the fears and - as you might’ve guessed my next words - LET’S BECOME ICONIC AND FEARLESS TOGETHER!!

Creative cheers from me, Anna, who sometimes forgets that she isn’t a motivational coach but an artist, designer, and entrepreneur :D

By the way, if you want me to be your mentor, here are all the resources to get started!

Cheers to another powerful week!
Anna at @andshedrawsbig