As a society, we’ve bought into a success culture that teaches us to care about nothing but success. We sometimes lose sight of the many bumps, detours, and heavy traffic we encounter that makes our journey unique. Why don’t we talk about the times when our proposals are rejected, when we make less than profitable investments or times we struggle for client retention? We know that nobody gets it right all the time, so why do we always associate setbacks with so much guilt and shame?
Acknowledging our failure is not about beating ourselves up. Rather, it is a training opportunity where we learn how to make better choices in the future. Forgiving ourselves for our miscalculations and faux pas is a key step to grow ourselves as entrepreneurs.
Experience is often the best teacher, not only for ourselves but also for others. Because we are so accustomed to celebrate and glorify success, it is never comfortable to share bloopers and misadventures. However, sharing these stories will help others avoid the same mistakes and perform better. People will respect and thank you for it.