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I am a failure, what about you?


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mistakes

It’s true. I am a failure and I’m not afraid to admit it, because it’s the truth. I may be a failure, but failure is the best thing that ever happened to me. My failures are my most valuable assets.

Why? Because I found my purpose through failures. I was humbled and realized I’m not better than anyone else….

What does failure mean to you? What are some of your failures? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

I failed a lot in life, at school, business, career, relationships… and the list goes on.

Let’s look at some of my failures, imperfections, and challenges:

  • When I was young, kids teased me and called me fat, ugly, and stupid.
  • My teacher said I wouldn’t accomplish anything in life because I didn’t speak English.
  • At age 19, my doctor told me I would die and misdiagnosed me with Multiple Sclerosis.
  • For several lonely years, I was physically disabled and couldn’t use my hands to shower myself or even hold a glass of water.
  • My girlfriend broke up with me.
  • I had no friends and I became depressed.
  • I struggled with social anxiety for years.
  • I got fired from a toilet cleaning job.
  • My first business was a complete failure.

    • But my biggest failure in life was to focus on my biggest failures. Big mistake. Everyone does fail at something. I know it’s not easy, but we need to forgive ourselves and move on…

    Today, thanks to God, I’m still alive and those doctors and teachers were wrong.

    I cured myself of years of disability in 1 hour. (I know it sounds crazy but it’s true!!)
    6 months later, my business eventually became successful enough to support myself and my mom so she could quit her job.
    I quit my job and saved all my money to move to a new city and take 1 year off work to fulfill my dream and contribute.
    I have amazing, compassionate, loving, purpose driven friends from all over the world
    I’ve had mind blowing dating and relationship experiences.
    I’ve experienced an incredibly fulfilling life and I’m grateful for every moment ….

    It’s not always great, though. And I still make a lot of mistakes and fall down a lot.

    Every day, I have to remind myself of the following:

    NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP!

    Basically, thanks to God, friends, mentors, and the kindness and patience of people…they’ve helped me turned those challenges into strengths and opportunities. It was scary, but really worth it.

    Have you failed a lot too? If you are, then you and I are in good company.

    Who else failed? Here’s a list of top 10 biggest failures:

    “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed…. I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. “

    - Michael Jordan

    “Would you like me to give you a formula for… success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure.”

    -Thomas J. Watson, Founder of IBM.

    “Success is 99% failure”

    - Honda

    * Albert Einstein (age 10) “You will never amount to much,” schoolmaster.
    * Ludwig van Beethoven. No talent for music … “as a composer he is hopeless,” music teacher.
    * Thomas Edison. too stupid to learn anything, teacher.
    * The Coca Cola Company. Sold only 400 bottles its first year in business.
    * The Beatles (1962). “We don’t like their sound … guitar music is on the way out,”Meca Records.
    * Jack Canfield and Mark Hanson. “Nobody wants to read a book of short little stories,” one of the 144 publishers that rejected the book proposal for “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

    Failure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved.

    —Lao Tzu

    “Failure is not giving things a go in the first place. People who fail are those who don’t have a go and don’t make an effort. Failures can’t be bothered. There are few people who’ve tried something and fallen who didn’t get enormous satisfaction from trying, and I’ve learned more from people who have tried and faltered than from the few charmed people for whom success came easy.

    - Richard Branson

    What should we do when we fail?

    The word “Failure” needs to be redefined.

    FAILURE
    Old Definition:
    A negative, fatal, and final result indicating:
    * An inability to perform and a lack of success.
    * A falling short because of ineptness, deficiency, or negligence.
    * A bad, bad thing that should be avoided, mourned, and punished.

    New Definition of Failure

    A short-term unexpected result that reflects a challenge in progress and that provides:

    * A stepping stone to success.
    * An opportunity for learning and development.
    * An opportunity for creative change and innovation.

    Learn From Failure!

    “ Once you embrace unpleasant news not as negative but as evidence of a need for change, you aren’t defeated by it. You’re learning from it.”

    —Bill Gates

    What about you? What are your thoughts on failure? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you.

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    • You may feel like a burden to your parents and be unemployed right now, but everything changes in life.
    • Yaso
      i'm sorry.. i got so inspired by your story i almost cried. but im 13.. i always leave everything to the last minuite and never get what i want done in time.. i don't study a bit as hard as i should, even though my parents' undeserving trust in me.. im overweight but not that fat, and i can never finish anything or get anywhere i want or do anything i'd like because i always fail!! i know it sounds horribly pathetic compared to your issues which i might say i was amazed at how they turned out.. but even though i keep telling myself not to give up i fail again and again and i've just grown tired, no one can be so strong. i feel like i have literally nothing n my life but my friends and faith in god. i never ever talk to anyone about this.. not because im ashamed or scared of what they might think of me, but because i haven't just grown tired of this, i've also grown sick. no studies.. i have 4 days left of school and im in the middle of my finals and i still can't get myself going!! what the hell is wrong with me that i've been trying to lose weight since last year and  i even ALWAYS eat healthy (seriously) but just can't do it till now?? i can never succeed in any of my goals and  simply feel pointless. please help.
    • Brenda
      Good day! I have read the websites profile and also the stories of different persons who have encountered failure in their lives. I would like to share my own story of failure...I was terminated from my work and since then I cannot get a new job.. I can't passed the psychological exams needed for application and I have taken an international exam twice last year but I didn't achieved what I desire. I don't know what to do because it's been year already...

      thank you....
    • el29
      im currently failing my masters course with only one of 6 modules passed. i never seem to learn and continue to push and push but i never seem to come up with the goods. every year life gets harder and harder and its my own fault, im just a glutton for punishment.
    • Tori_tomlinson
      I'm beyond a failure if that's possible, I have failed everyone in my life including myself. At 45 there's absolutley no hope for me Brice. I continue to waste time in relationships that don't go anywhere. The last one I wasted 12 years in. He used me, abused me and I allowed him to then of course dumped me and moved on to somebody else without looking back. I'm empty and numb. I've not talked to my mother in over a year because of the hurt and embarrasment. Currently I have no car it's been broke and parked in my drive for over a year, I lost my job 6 mths ago, I have no phone it got shut off, and my internet will be shut of the begining of the New Year, I have lost all hope in everything and don't see anyway out. Thanks for sharing you post I only wish I could feel optimistic about something.
    • Hi Tori, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you... I'd like to talk to you on the phone if you're willing. I'll send you an email. Hang in there and don't give up.
    • Felicia Wesley
      I am more of a failure than what you say you were. I haven't graduated from college. I have been attending since 1988 and I still do not know what I want to major in. I work for the local post office performing hard duties. I tried to sing in choirs but get passed over for solos all of the time. I am turned down by guys all of the time. I do nothing in life but work and come home. I have no friends. I am a total failure. I can't even succeed at suicide.
    • Never give up, Felicia. Hang in there. Persistence will give you a breakthrough. Call me if you want to talk. #209-753-4869

      Don't drag the regrets of yesterday into today. You can't do anything about your past, but you can change your future.

      You may have had an unfair past, but you don't have to have an unfair future.

      Decide to move on and say: "I don't care how hard this is, I'm not gonna let it bother me anymore. I'm moving on with my life."

      When you say: "I will stop being a victim." you have regained control of your life. Don't let the past control your future.

      You deserve reliable friends and relationships. Don't settle with people who mistreat you.

      And if guys turn you down, I would say: "That's their loss. It's because they don't have good taste. :P"

      As far as graduating from college... I know a homeless at 14 years old, joined a street gang, and never graduated from high-school. Today he's happily married and he's a billionaire... Google Bill Bartmann.

      I have a homeless friend on drugs who almost committed suicide. Today he's still alive, found a relationship, and works for a shelter.

      There is always hope. Never ever ever EVER give up!


    • Loser
      Great post man! Wish i had your guts!!

      I am a failure but not like you who has turned out to be successful. I was given a great opportunity to study at the best university of my country and yet could not utilize the opportunity at all.

      I graduated with the least possible CGPA (any less and they would not let me finish it) and it took me 2 additional terms.
      Later i was determined that i would do well in post graduation, turns out my grade is even inferior than the previous one.

      I cant get any jobs now. I am still a burden to my parents. My face looks very immature and gives the impression that i am only 16 (not in a glamorous way though). I have no friends, never dated any girl, everyone seem to take advantage of me since i have no guts.

      But i have made my peace with everything now. I keep reminding myself that millions of people die out of hunger and because of externally imposed war every year. Compared to them i am in a much better position. So what if i am a loser, there are worse condition than that.
    • You're not a loser because your goals have only been deferred temporarily, and you have a great attitude too!

      You may feel like a burden to your parents and be unemployed right now, but everything changes in life. It's only a matter of time until you become the person you were created to be.

      We learn more from failure than success. Sometimes not having what we want is the best teacher.

      I'm still a failure. :) I just re-framed the definition of failing which is a necessary stepping stone towards your goal.

      Losing = A stepping stone to success.
      * An opportunity for learning and development.
      * An opportunity for creative change and innovation.

      Be well,
      Brice
    • florens
      well at the first of my bright time when i go to school i have never been in a failure. probably i was too perfectionist .that's why i've never ready for a failure .but time has changed .and every single thing in my life has also changed .failures came to me one by one. i felt lame and it was just to shameful to me .but then i know some of successful people who has failed many times first to get successful in their life. being failed is so annoying and hard ,and i dont like it very much .but then i got spirit by looking at the people in different background with me who stay around me .they're awesome .they inspired me to make failure as a great "breakfast" to start my day : )
      love your writing brice .
    • I gave quotes and worked almost for free LOL
    • miyon
      I think this is an awesome post. I wish I could turn around my views and definitions of "failure" and adopt this new definition. I really hope so..
    • Joy
      Absolutely love this post, Brice.. you're very courageous to share this. I grew up believing failure is a terrible thing, mostly because of my parents, but I have learned to recognize that it's important to accept and love ourselves despite the mistakes we make. Thank you for the reminder.... I love the quotes too!
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