Defining Success & Failure in Today's Terms

Deborah Cole on Embracing Setbacks as Opportunities for Growth

Our success/failure measurement is constantly being redefined by society and our industry. Any consideration of it (as it applies to each of us) is as slippery a slope to examine as we might think. In the modern world, depending upon our goals, success might be defined as the number of “likes” on a social media page, the number of invitations to provide our services or simply the amount of the balance in one’s bank account. Although there are societal measurements, I would argue that success is for each individual to determine. Along with evaluating what is success, we must look at what might be classified as failure. Is it a low number of “likes” on social media, a phone that never rings or a bank balance that cannot support our lifestyle.

While society works diligently to dictate what is success and failure, only we should make that determination. Only we can define what is a status of “no win” as it pertains to us and/or our businesses. We all know the story of Thomas Edison and his 10,000 attempts at creating a successful lightbulb. In reframing the definition of failure, he said that he had not failed 10,000 times before success, he had “successfully found 10,000 ways that would not work.” He was able to reframe a situation to his advantage.

As entrepreneurs, by definition we set ourselves on a path fraught with risk. When we wake up in the morning, we never know what the day will bring, even though we have planned meticulously. Having the grit to start a business, hiring unpredictable humans to work with us and learning a million and one new things are all courageous steps on our path, possibly leading to unexpected outcomes. When I started my business, my parents were so quick with the negative “but, what if” statements. It is surprising I took the risk. Yes, there were challenges and, yes, there were (at least) 10,000 learning opportunities. It was all worth it. Others who do not share our dreams may only see and feel fear of the unknown, anticipating failure as a reason not even to try. Because others own their own fears does not mean they must become ours.

Failure is a word that should be retired and removed from our vocabulary. Even though not meeting expectations will happen and there will be disappointments, we can look at these as links in the chain of our success. These situations are merely learning opportunities along the way to building our businesses and living our best lives.  

Entrepreneurs love challenge. We may say that we are competitive and lovers of taking risks, but we are far more than that. We are courageous, optimistic and believers in possibility. Having such a mindset is crucial for success (or whatever term we personally wish to apply).  

Using the retired term “failure,” we know that we must experience setbacks from time to time. It is essential that we embrace each one of them fully. We must acknowledge that it happened, examine where the wheels came off the bus, how our expectations weren’t met (were they not realistic?) and how we will forge ahead to learn from each of the encounters. We have all lost bids, jobs and/or contracts. At the time, the world might have seemed cloudy. But, without exception, there are lessons learned and often, upon reflection, gratitude that something happened exactly as it did.  

I know that this attitude adjustment sounds like I am suggesting that we should live in a pink-frosted cupcake world that is not reality. But that is not the case. I do know that we live in a world that supports the courageous, the brave and the energetic. A loss can become a win with a reframe and a strength that serves us well as we grow as entrepreneurs in the best industry on the planet.

ABOUT DEBORAH COLE

Deborah Cole is the founder of a commercial landscape firm with multiple locations throughout Texas. She now devotes herself full-time to speaking, writing and consulting.  
www.deborahcoleconnections.com