Put Failure in Your Spice Rack

Struggle, failure, triumph: while triumph is the thing sought, struggle has its joy, and failure is not without its uses.

It is not the goal but the course which makes us happy. The law of life is what a great orator affirmed of oratory–“Action, action, action!” As soon as one point is gained, another, and another presents itself.

It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failure. Even when one turns to no new course, how many failures, as a rule, mark the way to triumph, and brand into life, as with a hot iron, the lessons of defeat!

The brave man or the brave woman is one who looks life in the eye, and says: “God helping me, I am going to realize the best possibilities of my nature, by calling into action the beneficent laws which govern and determine the development of each individual member of the race.” And the failures of such a person are the jewels of triumph; that triumph which is certain in the sight of heaven, if not in the eyes of men.

Watch this brief video and then forever stop straddling life’s fences: 

The Entrepreneurial Mindset

I hold no grudge against an individual who decides to settle down to a life of moderate success.  Having a fairly good income and a semblance of job stability does have some commonsense appeal.

But we live in a highly competitive world and settling for second place is a sure indication that one will inevitably be forced to settle for an even lower station in life a bit further down the road.

The margin of victory between the prize horse and the also-rans is usually less than a head or a nose.  And so it is in the business world, in academia, and even in the act of courtship.

The difference between success and constant defeat is often a mere matter of a book read or unread, a risky chance taken or passed by, or a few moments more of preparation and practice rather than time spent in idle chatter and daydreaming.

Most importantly, victory only comes to those who finish the race.

The entrepreneur does not have a wage-earner’s mentality.

He/she does not tread water.

He/she does not depend on others to tell him/her how to act or how to live.

He/she sees opportunity  where others see barriers.

He/she sees a chair as a lumberjack, as a carpenter, as a toolmaker, as a lathe, as nails, as a hammer, as a screwdriver and screw, as a saw, as a shipper, as a retail store, as a retail customer, and as an interior designer.

Profit centers all!  That chair has many revenue streams which originated in a dream or a rough sketch on paper.

Wikipedia defines entrepreneur as follows:

An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes and operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks.

Most importantly, however, he/she reaps the exponential rewards of a plan well thought out and executed soundly.

Risk in life is unavoidable regardless of whether we chose to act boldly or sit on the sideline of life.

Why not test the waters’ of possibility in your life?

Why not start to see the opportunity within the challenges you face?

“Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say
today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”

~Dale Carnegie~

Make it your intention each day to find a way to sprinkle your world with as many kind gestures and words as humanly possible.

This is not a just a religious principle for the pious, but a matter of common business and social sense.  To be stroked by another is like a shot of adrenalin to the spirit and sends a butterfly effect which can span continents with untold smiles and acts of generosity.

Online, when you see someone in need of assistance in business or life in general, be a good cyber neighbor.  Help out.  Make a profit, if appropriate, but offer only authentic, proven solutions or advice.

Imagine yourself on the receiving end.  What goes around does come around.