WorldWide Drilling Resource

Failure by Tim Connor Want to avoid failure? Move to a log cabin in Vermont! So, is it possible to fail consistently and achieve ultimate success? Ask anyone who has achieved success - however you choose to define it - and I'll guarantee the common answer will be - YES. How is this possible? Well, there are two ways to define failure and there are mul- tiple ways to respond to it. But first - from the experts on definitions: Failure - Something that falls short of what is required or expected. A break- down or decline in the performance of something, or an occasion when something stops working or stops working adequately. Agree? Success - Something that turns out as planned or intended. Somebody who is wealthy, famous, or powerful because of a record of achievement. Agree with this one? Personally, I take issue with this definition as it leaves out so many achieve- ments which may not end with wealth, fame, or power. In my world travels over the years speaking in 25 countries, I have never met - to this day - anyone who was successful who hadn't experienced failure in some or even many ways during their life or career. I believe there is only one way to avoid failure - dig a hole and bury yourself in it. I can't tell you how many articles and books I have read by people who espouse the concept of avoiding failure, or people and who believe failure is bad, or people who say failure is a sign of weakness - blah - blah - blah. These people are all nuts, and I'll bet any of them who have not failed yet are nowhere near achieving their potential. It's simple, folks. If you want to succeed, you must risk - to take a risk requires that you may make mistakes, make dumb decisions, or do stupid things and the result - yes - failure. I have written two books about failure and hundreds of articles, but the bottom line in all of them is this - you can't succeed in the present or future without failure in your past. So, the question remains - do we all define failure the same? I doubt it. Is there a common definition to it - yes - I gave it to you at the beginning of this article. Everything that exists today is because someone tried something, failed, and kept on trying again and again until they ultimately achieved success. Yes, many people quit after the first failure, and you know what? What they were trying to create still sits in the wings waiting patiently for resolve, courage, effort, and faith. Don't think for one minute success has come or will come easily and quickly to anyone. If it does - beware - it just might be fleeting and not all that rewarding. Success, like anything else in life, is not a comparison to what others have achieved or not achieved, but what you could achieve. Real success, enduring success, worthy success takes time, patience, and the ability to fail and keep on keeping on. Do not be lulled into the trap of thinking anything worthwhile in life will come quickly or without some pain, disappointment, or adversity. Either you have learned this lesson or I guarantee you one day will. So, let me ask you - are you failing at anything right now? If no - what are you waiting for? If yes - what are you learning and/or how are you growing? In His service, Tim To receive Tim’s weekly FREE motivational booster articles, contact him at www.timconnor.com with “please add me to your free booster e-mail subscriber list” in the subject line. Or contact him via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com 32 JULY 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Geothermal by: International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Certified Geothermal Inspector Workshop August 14-16 ~ Stillwater, OK Certified GeoExchange Designer - GCD Plus Course August 22-24 ~ Stillwater, OK phone: 405-744-5175 www.igshpa.org Irrigation by: Rain Bird Academy Training August 6-10 ~ Hollywood, FL August 20-24 ~ Houston, TX phone: 800-498-1942 www.rainbirdservices.com Tunneling by: American Society of Civil Engineers Practical Aspects of Tunnel Design August 9-10 ~ NJ (New York City Metro Area) phone: 703-295-6300 www.asce.org Education Connectionn