Positive reflections on failure

Innovation, learning, personal growth, and organizational excellence are all impossible to achieve without overcoming setbacks and obstacles along the way. Of course, these challenges make failure difficult to face and discuss.

Negative attitudes toward risk-taking, usually born of fear or arrogance, can interfere with our ability to learn from mistakes and adapt to adverse or changing conditions. Resistance to change and difficulty learning from failure are significant issues that drive many problems on IT programs of all kinds.

With that in mind, here are two poems that express a distinctly positive attitude toward failure. These poems were both written by Sri Chinmoy, an Indian teacher and artist who died in 2007.

NO FAILURE No failure, no failure. Failure is the shadow Of success. No failure, no failure. Failure is the changing body Of success. No failure, no failure. Failure is the fast approaching train Of the greatest success.

FAILURE AND SUCCESS Defeat Is a bad failure. Despair Is a worse failure. Not to try again Is the worst failure. Victory Is a good success. Progress Is a better success. Surrender Is the best success.

Any thoughts on this topic? Please share them in the comments!