Don't Call it Failure - Call it Practising for Success

Many people get discouraged if they don't succeed immediately when they try something. Sometimes the fear of failure is so strong that it even puts them off trying in the first place. But success isn't a black or white conclusion, it is more of an ongoing process, where you learn by your mistakes, try things out, see what works and what doesn't, and begin to understand things better, step-by-step.

There are many sayings and proverbs in the English language which reflect this:

• "Rome wasn't built in a day"

• "from the smallest acorn mighty oaks grow" 

• "Many a slip 'twixt cup and lip"

• "If you don't ask, you don't get"

• and even "God helps those who help themselves" 

         ( I can't help adding here "and God help those that do!")
 
And here are some classical oft-repeated sayings which have  become part of our culture:

• from Confucious, followed by Mao Tse Cheung: "The longest journey starts with a single step"

• from Aesop's fable, The Tortoise and the Hare:  "Slow and steady wins the race"

• and from the poet Robert Burns: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again"

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Here's an impressive Tweet from @WMoss. I found it on Clipboard:

"Steve Jobs was born out of wedlock, put up for adoption at birth, dropped out of college, then changed the world. What's your excuse?"

If you want to follow up this subject about how to achieve success, I have expanded on it in my Wizzley article Don't Call it Failure, with a list of things to help you achieve your goals, and a poll.