You Must Fail – Six Lessons from Michael Jordan

First, watch this 30 second video.

In order to succeed you must fail. Failure is an essential step towards success.  The more successful the individual the more failures they will have faced along the way.  These might be small failures such as being rejected by a prospect, or they may be larger failures such as a business failing.  These failures can propel you towards success.

Michael Jordan is a great example about success through failure.  There are many lessons that can be learned through his experiences.  Use these tips as an opportunity for self examination.  How do you respond to failure?

1. Take the Shots

In the commercial above, Michael Jordan talks about how many shots he missed.  He missed shots because he was willing to take them.  Are you willing to take the shots that will help you succeed in your goals?

2. Don’t Let Failure Stop You from Trying Again

A missed shot didn’t stop Michael Jordan.  If he had stopped shooting because of one miss, or not been willing to take the next game winning shot simply because he missed the last one, he would not have become the championship player he was. Is a past failure stopping you from moving towards your goals?

3. Don’t Let Failure Get You Down

Michael Jordan didn’t let a missed shot create discouragement.  You cannot dwell on your failures – you must move on.  It is hard to overestimate the importance of a positive attitude on life especially when you fail.  If you are able to keep a positive attitude when you fail, you’ll be able to be ready to try again more quickly.  Have you let failure get you down?

4. Learn Every Time You Fail

There is no doubt that Michael Jordan learned from his failures.  By learning from your failures you will gain more success.  Every lesson you take from failure can be used to help you succeed the next time.  Failure simply shows you what doesn’t work, allowing you to go do what does work the next time.    What can you learn from your most recent failure?

5. Know your Game Winning Shots

Your game winning shots are the activities which push you over the edge as you work towards your goals.  They are the things you can do that allow you to win.  Your game winning shot might be making sales calls to your top prospect list, or submitting another book proposal to a publisher.  You need to know these most important activities and look for opportunities to take shots. What are the game winning shots for your business?

6. Your Response to Failure Impacts Your Team

Not only was Michael Jordan a basketball superstar he was part of great teams. With Michael Jordon the Chicago Bulls won six NBA championships.  Similarly, you need a team to succeed.  Your team will follow you lead.  If you respond negatively to failure, your team will follow.  If you dismiss failure, learn from it, and quickly move on with a positive attitude your team will do likewise.  How is your response to failure impacting your team?

Written by:
The Success Professor – Danny Gamache
If you liked this article, leave a comment below, or subscribe by RSS!
If you are looking for a way to earn extra money, click here!

Tags: , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 8:23 am and is filed under Personal Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “You Must Fail – Six Lessons from Michael Jordan”

  1. Tickled By Life says on November 30th, 2008 at 1:04 am :

    very inspiring !
    What works for me is perhaps not very healthy for everyone!

    I try and ‘Enjoy Failure’ till the time i succeed :-)

  2. The Success Professor says on December 6th, 2008 at 8:03 pm :

    @ Tickled By Life – Great attitude! Keep it going.

  3. john says on December 18th, 2008 at 5:52 am :

    i feel i want to try the failture in my life.i want to success like jodan,whether in life or in work !

  4. InfoCompanions » Blog Archive » Toys that blend Beauty and Magic says on January 9th, 2009 at 8:13 am :

    [...] to be able to discuss your past failures. On a related note, check out this cool blog post- “You Must Fail – Six lessons from Michael Jordon” http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1799876063870442684 [...]

  5. Arvin says on September 18th, 2009 at 9:40 pm :

    “The best there ever was. The best there ever will be. Period.”

    “Michael Jordan did not only elevated the game of basketball but is the living proof of how recurring Failure(s) brings forth eventual Success in Life.”

  6. More Notes 2 « says on October 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 am :

    [...] 2009 Light Up Your Retina with 40 Rampaging Vector Robots! Bad ass robot illustrations. You Must Fail – Six Lessons from Michael Jordan 1. Take the Shots 2. Don’t Let Failure Stop You from Trying Again 3. Don’t Let Failure Get You [...]

Leave a Reply