How does one fail forward?
- Reject rejection
People who don't give up keep trying because they don't base their self worth on their performance. Instead, they have an internally based self image. Rather than say, "I'm a failure", they say "I missed that one".
- See failure as temporary
People who personalize failure see a problem as a hole they're permanently stuck in. But achievers see any predicament as temporary.
- See failures as isolated incidents
When achievers fail, they see it as a momentary event, not a lifelong epidemic. It's not personal. If you want to succeed, don't let any single incident color your view of yourself.
- Keep expectations realistic
If you want to take a stroll in your neighborhood, you can reasonably expect to have a few problems. But that's not the case if you intend to climb Mount Everest.
- Focus on Stengths
If a weakness is a matter of character, it needs much attention. Focus on it until you shore it up. Otherwise, the best bet for failing forward is developing your strengths.
- Vary approaches to achievement
Try and change until you find something that works for you.
- Bounce back
Sometimes the outcome is what you want. Figure out what you did right. Sometimes the outcome is what you don't want. Figure out what you did wrong so you don't do it again.
(Summarized from John Maxwell's Failing Forward)
