"Failing" does not make you a "Failure"

I don’t know about you but sometimes I just fall down and fail to meet the

demands of my job, my family or my friends. The interesting thing is that

most of the time they do not even know I failed them. It may be something

that I wanted to do to exceed an expectation, recognize an accomplishment or

just help out with a situation. No one knows I did not do it, no one except

for me and I am my harshest critic.

Legendary inspirational guru Zig Ziglar taught me that "failure is an event

NOT a person" and certainly not me or you. Yesterday is over and gone.

Today is a brand new day and full of promise and opportunity. It is only when

we decide to dwell in the lost opportunity of the past dthat we miss the

fantastic opportunities of today and beyond.

The sum of a person’s life is not found in the number of times they fall

down, NO the sum of your life (and mine) will be in the times we get back up.

I can make you one absolutely certain promise – you will fail and I will

fail. As motivational speaker Les Brown has said many times if you fall down

be sure you land on your back "because if you can look up you can get

up." Just keep getting up.

My favorite quote regarding this comes from inventor Thomas Edison. When

asked if he ever considered quitting during his 10,000 unsuccessful attempts

to perfect the incandescent light bulb. His reply so perfectly sums up his

life, Edison said "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that

won't work."

Perceived failure may just be what is necessary to bring you one step closer

to success. So remember these words from Zig, "Clearly understand that

failure is an event not a person; yesterday ended last night, and today is

your brand new day." Truer words were never spoken.