Does Failing And Failure Frighten You?
November 26th, 2007 at 04:43am Manchild
“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”
–Picasso
Guess what? My blog is “broken.” Why? Because I broke it during a failed attempt to fix a possible security risk that upgrading to WordPress 2.3.1 is supposed to resolve. Quick question. How many bloggers have not attempted to upgrade to WordPress 2.3.1 because you’re afraid you might fail? As evidenced by my “Home Page,” my efforts to finish this arduous upgrade have failed.
Why is failure and failing perceived as a bad thing if one learns more by failing to “do something” than by succeeding to “do nothing?” Does failing and failure frighten you? If not, share your “success story” by letting us know what you’ve done for the “first time” during 2007. Before you post a comment, think about how you’ve been programmed, conditioned, and taught to define “success” and “failure.”
What have you done for the first time this year? For the first time, I’ve published a blog. Did I fail to write perfect, error-free posts? Most Definitely! Did I fail to achieve all the goals I set out to accomplish thus far? Most definitely! But I’ve learned so much and met so many beautiful bloggers because I stepped outside the boat of my self-imposed limitations. Steppin’ outside the boat of what gave me a false sense of security and launching this blog was truly an act of faith for a person like me with perfectionistic tendencies like mine.
Because my site is not monetized, I sacrificed my blogging goals as a blogger to birth my big dream by finishing a literary project that began before leaving Los Angeles, California in 1997. For the first time, I’ve “successfully” written, designed, and produced a 272 page book that has taken me over 10 years to complete. Only by the grace of God is Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness finished.
But because I’ve failed to write a post for this blog as frequently as expected to become a successful blogger, am I a failure in the eyes of my peers? Does anybody know who wrote the rules that govern bloggers and blogging? Who sat down and wrote the formulas and algorithms that determine “Page Rankings?” Did they succeed or fail? Does money earned determine who becomes a successful blogger?
How many of my prolific peers in the blogosphere will vilify me, ridicule me, reject me, and think less of me because I’ve failed, fallen short, and missed the mark set by a few professional bloggers? How many of my “subscribers” will stop supporting my relentless efforts to make a difference by abandoning my community because I’ve failed to rise to the level of your expectations? How many of you still believe that nobody loves a “loser” as much as everybody loves a “winner?”
During your quiet talk with God in your secret place, ask yourself, Does failing and failure frighten you because you still fear ridicule and rejection? Think about your answer before posting your comment.
Copyright © 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
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Entry Filed under: Acts Of Faith, Bloggers And Blogging, Critical Thinkers, Education, God And Family First, Leadership, Personal Development, Technical Difficulties, Think About It
15 Comments Add your own
1. kher » Does Failing&hellip | November 26th, 2007 at 6:37 am
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” –Picasso Guess what? My blog is “broken.” Why? Because I broke it during a failed attempt to fix a possible security risk that upgrading to WordPress 2.3.1 is supposed to resolve. Quick question. […] [...]
2. Shelia | November 26th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Hey Manchild! I hope that you and your family had a great Thanksgiving!
I’ve opened myself to friendship again this year for the first time in a long time. I cleaned out my friendships of “toxic” people a few years ago and wasn’t really interested in letting others in to replace them. I consider some of those “toxic’ relationships failed on my part because I availed myself to certain people whose characteristics I knew of, but once I learned more, I wasn’t willing to expand myself to include certain new things. I’m still not, but at least I know that now and it enables me not to over extend myself or be dishonest with others.
Blogging is new for me too, but not writing so it’s not as daunting. And since I can’t control what happens outside of my blog, I only worry about what I put into it.
3. Bola Oluyemi | November 26th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Hi manchild, you have an award waiting at http://mumsdadschildren.blogspot.com/2007/11/here-we-go-again.html
4. Trish Scott | November 26th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Hi Manchild.
Actually I didn’t know the blogosphere cared what I do or don’t do and didn’t know about any upgrades that might be required to make me function better there. I suppose ignorance is bliss. Think I’ll stick with it. Congrats on your book!
But in answer to your question, no.
5. Paula Mooney | November 26th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Yeah, I’ve waited to upgrade to the new version of WP, only because I’ve worked in tech support, and I like to let the bugs get fixed first.
But no, failing is something we all need to realize is a good thing — something that can teach us to press forward, turn left, turn right, go straight ahead.
Hope your blog is fixed soon.
Welcome back,
Paula
6. Lynn | November 27th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Congratulations on your book. Failure is just another way saying you had the courage to step out on faith! Keep going
7. Karen | November 29th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Praise God for completion - 2007! I am proud of you and excited to hear what God has in store for you during your year of new beginnings!
8. Galba Bright of Tune up your EQ | December 1st, 2007 at 8:11 am
Congratulations Manchild. I look forward to learning more about your book.
You refer to “sacrificing your blogging goals.” I respectfully question whether this is what you’ve done.
Success and failure is important in the eyes of the person who sets the goal. For people of faith, success and failure will be measured against God given goals.
Moreover, monetisation is one of a number of possible goals that a blogger may set. An alternative is that a person can choose to be an indirect blogger, where one uses the blog to achieve other goals. For example, I started blogging this year. My blog isn’t monetised, it promotes the concept of emotional intelligence. It also gives me the opportunity to connect with like minded bloggers, it indirectly promotes my services and it helps me strengthen relationships with people that are interested.
I’ve nothing against monetisation. The most important thing is to have a goal that one feels passionate about, passion that will not be constrained by the “conventional wisdom.”
After all, “With God, all things are possible”.
I pray that you continue to go from strength to strength, encouraging, challenging and educating your community along the way.
9. aika | December 5th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Hello, I really like your post. It inspires me.
10. QuoteGuy | December 10th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Very insightful!
11. mizrepresent | December 13th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hi Manchild,
It takes time to write books, and so your time away from the blogging was necessary. I too, often suffer and try to navigate between my personal, professional and blogging life, but some times the balances are not always in my favor. As a writer/publisher, i have more than enough on my plate, and although i love blogging, i fear that i have become too dependent on the numbers and not of the quality and truthfulness of my blogging. What have i accomplished or failed at this year? What have i done new. I experienced an entire year of being single, for the first time since my divorce. I have done very little dating, but i did at least attempt to, which was very challenging. Would i consider it a failure, well maybe, and what did i learn…that maybe isn’t the time. I’ve opened myself up to people from all over, strangers, and have found some gems, along with some rocks. I have relished my being alone and yet suffered in it. I have accomplished more this year with writing and publishing than ever, and yet i have no real finances to show for it. Failure and success, but in my eyes i’m only improving. Wow, sorry for being so longwinded.
12. Benjamin | December 15th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Fear is a major trigger for procrastination. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of change. Choose who’s eyes are important, and focus on those. Keep on blogging!
13. Lisa C | December 23rd, 2007 at 9:37 am
I think a fear of failure has actually helped me a little bit. It hasn’t held me back or kept me from doing things. When I start to do something where failure is an option (when isn’t it) then I think this fear actually makes me plan more and re-check what I am doing.
Lisa
14. FOOTPRINTS | January 5th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Thank you for this provoking thought .. you just gave me an insight what I should pursue in this brand new year ..
My God saw my blemishes but instead He gave me His grace. I’m content by knowing that and nothing else should matter.
The world can decide and judge. But whose voice I should listen to? Definitely not theirs.
15. Jonathan Wells | January 17th, 2008 at 10:18 am
In reality, there are no failures only results. Granted, sometimes we don’t get the result we wanted but that doesn’t mean we failed. If we learn from every result, we can adjust our approach and produce a different result.
Life is about taking action learning from the result, making adjustments and taking more action. It’s all good.
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