3 Lessons from Failure in 2010

3 Lessons from Failure in 2010 What did you learn this year?   What valuable life-lessons did you experience?   Hindsight is a wonderful thing.   It allows us to put some distance between the event and our emotions so we can more objectively look at the situation. Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely. ~ Henry Ford Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. ~ Sir Winston Churchill Ive missed more than 9000 shots in my career. Ive lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times Ive been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. Ive failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. ~ Michael Jordan These quotes say it all! So as the wonderful year of 2010 winds down, look back on your failures.   Here are some of mine, some big, some little, yet Ive learned from them and trying it again!   And by the way, a special thanks to Katrina Klibben for her inspiration for this post! Missed Opportunities:   There were several, perhaps more, that I missed out on.   I know why, I didnt follow through, period. I know why I didnt follow through in each case.   I convinced myself that if they were really interested, they would contact me.   Or, at least thats what I told myself.   The deeper reason wasI was afraid that I wouldnt be able to deliver or that I would FAIL. Now, thats a huge oxymoron. The Rush of a Deadline:   Time management may not be my greatest strength.   I have a love/hate relationship with the pressure of a deadline.   I love having a deadline but cant quite seem to do all the necessary steps in between. The truth is, I am a procrastinator.   Lets see if this year I can break the work into smaller pieces so that I can make the big deadline. Too many meetings, not enough purpose. Gallons of coffee consumed while meeting with fascinating people.   Hmmm, is there something wrong with this picture?   Was this the best use of my time?   How did it it help me?   How did it benefit the people I met with? Dont get me wrong, I am a firm believer in networking, howeverit has to have a purpose. The last six months have been a huge transition for me.   I struggle every day to identify my niche.   I am so fearful of putting a stake in the ground and moving forward that I get stuck in a vortex.   I am sure there are many others with this same dilemma. Let me say, I am incredibly grateful to the countless friends who have tried to help me sift through this.   These friends have been supportive and believe in me and the work I do. So, what have you learned this year?   Please feel free to share in a comment!