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
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Hello everyone,

I have just returned from Beijing.  I’m up right now at 4:30 am with a little bit of jet lag.  My internet access in China was limited so my updates and stories will come now that I have returned. The Olympics were great.  While it started out looking very difficult to get tickets this year that soon opened up and I was able to attend a number of events.  While some of the top draws (such as swimming and diving) were not available for reasonable prices many other events were available.   I was able to attend road cycling, basketball, baseball, tennis, fencing, handball and track and field.  Further, I was able to check out many of the important tourist sites in Beijing including the Great Wall, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven.

There were many stories that demonstrated powerful success principles for life and business.  Over the next week and  a half I will share many of these principles with you.  Later this morning my wife and I leave for a direct marketing confernece in Salt Lake City.  This conference is one of my favorite times each year and it always inspires me singificantly.  I look forward to sharing what I learned.

More stories and pictures to come!

The Success Professor