This Definition of Success at First Surprised Me

Here is a very useful, if somewhat paradoxical definition of success:

“Success isn’t the absence of failure, but going from the failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.”*

I am a person who does not enjoy failing. In fact, I really hate to fail at anything (in this, I am pretty sure I am not alone). So I was rather surprised at this quote when I first heard it, but also intrigued.

After thinking about it, here are three ways that I can see how this quote is true:

1. Unlike the famous quote from the move Apollo 13, failure IS an option. In fact, more often than not, it is inevitable, because the experience of failure is a natural part of the human condition. So it is best to get past our failures and move on as quickly as possible.
2. If we can learn from our failures, we can set ourselves up for eventually succeeding.
3. Failure is rarely a permanent condition (as long as we avoid death or being permanently maimed). Given that, we can try again. Failure is really only permanent if we quit trying.

So, I tip my hat to all of you successful failures out there.

Enthusiasm On Everyone!

*Apparently, this quote has been attributed to a number of different people, including Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln.