We Fail To Achieve Greatness Because We Fear Success
One reason we do not reach excellence is because of our fear of failure. Failure is a better teacher than success. Every great success story has its element of failure. You have not failed until you quit; only then have you failed. After Thomas Edison finished his 700th experiment trying to develop the electric light his assistant said, “We have failed.” Edison replied, “No. We have found 700 ways that will not work. Do not call these 700 experiments mistakes; call them our education. Now let’s keep going until we find the answer.” Are you afraid of failure? Then you’ll never succeed. You’ll never stub your toe standing still. Remember the turtle, he never gets anywhere until he sticks his neck out. You can’t succeed if you’re not willing to risk failure.
Have you failed? Get up. Wipe the dust and the dirt off of your face and get back in the race. Don’t give an alibi; give it another try. Failure is not the worst thing in the world that could happen to you. The very worst thing in the world is your refusal to try again. One of my favorite quotes is from Theodore Roosevelt, who said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
Source: 12 Sunday Mornings—Volume 2
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