Michael Jordan and Failure

When it comes to our personal learning and coaching others, it is critical to stay in the “Learning Zone” as much as possible.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

Maximum benefit comes from pushing the outer limits of the learning zone into the panic zone where you will fail. 

Failing Does Not Mean You Are A Failure. Quote: I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan.

Fail 9 Times to Succeed

Learn from Failure - Black Box Thinking

What is critical is to NEVER consider yourself a failure just because you fail. You can never allow your self-worth to get tied up into either your successes or failures. You must ground your joy and self-worth in the journey and the people who are on that journey with you.  

From a coaching standpoint, know that most people will associate failure with being a failure. Your role as a coach requires that you help people separate those two things in their minds, always reminding them of the benefits of learning from failure.  

Providing extremely specific and rapid feedback -- while coaching that this is information only -- is the key to building people faster.

How comfortable are you pushing yourself to failure?  




Balancing Exploration and Exploitation
Exploitation involves choosing the best option based on current knowledge of the system which may be incomplete or misleading. Exploration involves testing new options that could lead to better future outcomes but drawing resources away from exploitation.
Racing, Equipment, Heart Rates, and Contractor Growth
The fastest marathon runner used shoes costing $300 and is 2X as fast as an intermediate runner. The fastest 100-mile bicycle time is about 2.5X faster than the fastest marathon runner, going nearly 4X as far. Contractor and career growth is similar.
Retirement Onboarding - The Ideal Lifestyle for the Retiring Contractor
Work-life balance has probably mostly been work. Now is the time to see that work-life balance is really all about life.