On Failure and Learning
Learning to Fail- An Invaluable Skill.
I haven’t written in a minute, mainly because of work commitments, but personally, it’s a testament to the fact that I haven’t been learning enough. Because learning forces expression. — “Out of the abundance of the heart…”
Not learning in the conventional classroom sense, my MBA modules and LinkedIn learning supply my fill of conventional self-education.
I am speaking of the learning that comes from failure. from reaching out and trying difficult, uncomfortable things. Some day, while training a class, I unwittingly admitted a truth I wasn’t consciously aware of at the time. Most of my academic excellence was borne from choosing the paths I’m most likely to succeed in. Of course, there’s commitment and actually putting in the work, but at the fore of it all, it’s me choosing the path of least resistance. And that in itself is not outlandishly terrible.
Should you want ease in your life? Definitely! The world is difficult enough without you consciously adding to it. James Clear says to succeed 9 times out of 10 because this builds momentum. You can accumulate advantages. And benefit from the feeling of success which prods you to do and be more.
However, he also says to leave out that ten percent for failure, for the hard things. You might end up pleasantly surprised when it works out. But if you fail as you planned to, you learn without the guilt and let down. Getting comfortable with failing means you have the courage to try again. Many people don’t even try because they fear looking stupid. The more you fail, the more your brain is trained to face your fears.
Basic instincts move you to shy away from the difficult, we don’t want to have to struggle. Struggle is a part of learning. In fact, struggle is one of the most valuable aspects of learning. It is through struggle that we learn to problem-solve, think critically, and develop resilience. It is through struggle that we learn to adapt and change, to overcome obstacles, and to grow.
“The world is flat”. — Thomas Friedman.
Friedman means the world is interconnected and competitive due to technology and globalization. Consequently, there’s a relatively equal playing field with access to information and opportunities for all.
In a fast-changing global economy, knowledge and skills are the new currency, and those who are well-educated and continuously learning are more likely to succeed.
So how do you learn how to learn? While you might find specific courses that cater to this need, Friedman says the best way to learn how to learn is to fall in love with learning. How do you fall in love with learning? Well think about the fundamentals of your first years of learning, the subjects that you excelled the most at, maybe you loved the teacher that taught it to you, and the teacher loved the subject too. Maybe you were super into dinosaurs, so you learned the name of every last one. You learned because your eyes widened in wonder, you wanted to know more. You learned by being interested and by doing. Doing didn’t always mean you got it right. Sometimes it took a few tries to succeed, and you learned more with every failed attempt.
Learning from losing is just as important as learning from success. When we lose, we are faced with the opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and to make changes for the future. We learn from our mistakes and we learn from our failures. It is through these experiences that we gain the wisdom and insight necessary for growth and progress.
And while it isn’t always easy to embrace struggle and failure, it is essential for personal and professional growth. Learn to fall in love with learning, and see the value in struggle and failure. This will help you adapt and succeed in the face of adversity and ultimately keep you competitive in the fast-changing global job market.
So, next time you face a difficult task, don’t shy away from it, embrace it and learn from it. Because, in the end, that is what will make you stand out from the rest.
