Edition #24: thirty failures from success
If you knew you were 30 failures away from success, what would you start failing at?
I’ve been failing a lot lately. Which is encouraging because it means I’m in new territory.
University prepared me to solve quadratic equations and predict the reactions of organic compounds.
Not to run a business, create a brand, or navigate two wildly unpredictable industries.
(There are several more things on this list, but I’ve stopped here because it was getting depressing.)
The good news is I know how to find out:
Experiment and adapt.
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds.”
The Problem: I don’t know how to do it
…yet.
Adding “yet” makes all the difference.
In just 3 letters, you move from hopeless to empowered.
The truth is, you were born to adapt. That is your superpower.
How else did a ridiculous species like ours, with soft, penetrable flesh, zero claws, and zero fangs come to rule the world?
Because we are good at figuring things out.
The Solution: Do one thing to get you closer
The problem is usually not the problem. It’s the expectation to be perfect immediately.
Real change is steady and slow.
Don’t focus on becoming brilliant.
Just take the next best step.
Become the kind of person who keeps showing up.
The Application:
Four years ago, I retired from professional sport and wanted to see if I could make it as a keynote speaker. In a world of Simon Sineks, Brene Browns, and Steven Bartletts, it was easy to think “how will I ever compare with them?”
It occurred to me that it was probably premature to consider them my competition. So I went back to basics and asked myself a simple question:
What is one thing I can do to increase my chances of getting booked?
Simple - get in touch with speaker bureaus so they know who I am.
I sent out some emails and got a slot in a showcase.
And I was okay.
Most of the agents said it was good.
One said it was “okay” and gave me a list of 3 things I should change.
In hindsight, maybe it wasn’t the best move to showcase at a big agency so early. Mediocre was not the impression I wanted to leave. But you have to start somewhere.
I made the changes and spent 4 years perfecting my craft. Last week, that same agent watched me speak in front of 1,000 people in a fancy London venue. And this was the text he sent me after:
When I first heard you speak you were a decent speaker. Today I thought you were exceptional! Let’s have a catch up but honestly you have really become great!
I have been forcing myself to marinate in this text. I read it every morning. Because even though there are still several parts of my business I’d like to do better, it reminds me that effort matters.
Maybe it will take 4 years to become the kind of business owner I want to be.
That’s okay. I’ll keep going.
If you knew you were 30 failures away from success, what would you start failing at?
It can feel daunting at the beginning. But one thing I find helpful to remember:
You can do less than you think in a day, and more than you think in a year.
Stay bold, friends!
- Stef 💪
Forward this to a friend you want to encourage!
Or forward to someone looking for an inspirational speaker.