"Failure is not an option"... that quote or motto has been attributed to the attitude that many inside NASA had during the Apollo 13 catastrophe. Although the words were not used as a quote, it was admitted by many NASA employees to be the attitude that surfaced to help bring resolution to the problem. Obviously, life and death hung in the balance in that situation. However, many people carry this similar attitude around on a daily basis. I mean, let's face it, who wants to be labeled as a failure? In fact, our society goes out of its way to avoid failure. One need look no further than the whole "Too Big To Fail" mantra that was throw around as the economy went off the rails back in 2007.* No one wants to be considered an "epic fail"but try as we might, we are doomed in many ways to fail!
As I reflect mid way through 2015, I think about failures I have experienced this year. In my reflection, I have found that I should not think "what could/should I have done to avoid that failure?" Instead, I am choosing to focus on "what did I learn from that failure?" You see that is the problem that most people encounter when it comes to failure. They spend so much time being preached to about how or why they should try to be perfect, and little time on how to overcome obstacles (i.e. failure) when they experience it. I see this all the time in education, sports and business. Students who never fail a test or project by a certain grade level in school are crushed when they get that first D or F. They literally have no ways to cope or even begin to know how to overcome that failure. This leads students to live in bubbles. They will not work to try and achieve anything outside of their comfort zone, because of a fear of failure. Many sports teams are the same way. There have been teams that have been successful and then once they experience a loss, are never able to recover. (See the 2005 Indianapolis Colts)
Take a look at all the great technology in our society. Now go and research the history of the device or equipment. I am willing to bet there is a history of failure somewhere in the story. In fact, many companies are now encourage their workers to fail! According to a recent Fast Company interview with Gopi Kallayil of Google, one of their 9 Principles of Innovation is to "Fail Well". Kallayil says, "Failure is actually a badge of honor...Failure is the way to be innovative and successful. You can fail with pride." Think about if you took that approach the next time you were asked to complete a task at work or school. How would you react? Would you use the same old tried and true methods, with minimal results? Or would you push the envelope and try to create something new and innovative?
http://www.fastcompany.com/3021956/how-to-be-a-success-at-everything/googles-nine-principles-of-innovation
This is a conversation we are having in education right now. As technology is integrated in the classroom, many teachers are resisting the implementation of technology. Why? More than likely there is a fear of failure. A fear that what they have done for so long is being threatened by something new and they might fail. In all honesty, they probably will and should. This is the only way to grow. Learn from mistakes and get better. I challenge you to try something new. If you fail, reflect and learn from it!
*Interestingly the term "too big to fail" goes all the way back to the 1980's in being used to describe the FDIC
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