5 Ways to Turn Failure into Success

As an executive, I find that I often don’t value failure in the way I ought to. How many times have I interpreted failure as a sign of inadequacy, instead of a sign of my own success? As Dale Carnegie said, “Discouragements and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” Do you think Steve Jobs, Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth or Eli Manning became great by not failing? No failing is the backbone to their success!

Here are five stepping stones to success:

1. Learn - Failure teaches you knowledge, wisdom and discernment. Think about your best “life” lessons. Often a failure or perception of a failure is at the heart of that lesson. Too often I make my own failure much worse than it really is. If you learn to press on, reach beyond your emotion and take inventory of what you have learned from your failure, you may surprise yourself. Many leaders have learned patience, kindness and mastered much needed skills to become the strong leaders they are today.