Failing Forward

A while back (before all of this recent chaos) LeBron James was being interviewed on 60 Minutes.  They were talking about a whole host of things, most revolving around his success.  The man conducting the interview asked him what his greatest skill on the basketball court was - and he said that it was his head - the mental approach that he takes to the game... and to anything.  He said that one thing he believes truly that you have to not be afraid to fail - or to fear failure.  His response didn’t really surprise me.  Just like his idol, Michael Jordan, he realizes that in order to grow and get better, at anything, that we must first suffer failures or set-backs.  Then, if we allow ourselves to learn from them, we can get better and move forward.  Author John C. Maxwell phrases it as “Failing Forward.”  Below is a copy of a speech I gave at a grade school athletics banquet last year.  It may seem like a strange concept at first, but I think we need to learn to welcome failure, or perceived set-backs. 

We live in a society where failure is frowned upon, and no one wants to fail - believe me I sure don’t want to either.  But if we embrace those any set-backs that we do encounter, and allow ourselves to learn and grow from them - we can be and do better!  It’s a skill that those who have succeeded most likely possess, and something that stops others from getting to where they want to be - that fear of failing.

Excerpt from the interview:  "But of all the weapons in James' basketball arsenal, he thinks the most powerful may be his brain.

Asked what the strongest part of his game is, James told Kroft, "The way I approach the game mentally. I think, team first. It allows me to succeed, it allows my team to succeed. Because I'm always thinking about, 'How can I help my teammates become better?' I've always approached the game that way, ever since, I mean, I was a kid." ...

..."Three years after joining the lowly Cavaliers, he led them to the finals of the NBA Championship with one of the greatest clutch performances in history. He single handedly scored his team's last 25 points in a double overtime victory against Detroit.

"The game was so magical. I mean, I still watch it to this day," James told Kroft.

"You didn't feel nervous taking those shots?" Kroft asked.

"No. You can't be afraid to fail. It's the only way you succeed - you're not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that. You have to be able to accept failure to get better," he replied."

Speech:  Failure - I can't accept not trying
Article from John C. Maxwell:  Failing Forward