If At First You Don't Succeed . . .

You've probably all heard that old adage. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." I'm sure it's something many parents have rhymed off to their children in order to encourage them to keep persevering through difficulty while learning a new task.

Sadly, as we get older, we seem to lose this mentality. We want our children to try again, and yet often we give up at the first sign of failure. Why is it that we've forgotten the importance of brushing ourselves off and trying again?

Goals aren't easy to reach. Be it a personal goal, or a work goal, chances are that you will face failure in some form while trying to achieve it. You lose 15lbs and then gain back 5lbs. You try to get into a course you need and get turned down. You get passed over for a promotion. The list goes on. What do you do when things don't go your way? Do you give up? Or do you try again?

Many of the people I speak to who have reached their goals, didn't do it easily. They faced challenges, set-backs, and utter disappointment. The one thing that propelled them forward was always sheer determination. Sure there are the lucky few, but most have to work at success.

What have you given up on? What could you pull off the shelf, dust off, and try again at? Would it help you get to where you want to go? If it would advance you toward a goal - why are you not trying, and then trying again? There is no shame at all in failing, as long as you fail forward.