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I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. - Thomas Edison

You might have already seen a lot of articles written recently about failure. Before long it seemed that the theme of ‘Failure’, ironically a theme that most of us tend to try and keep away from, was the most talked about subject on the web.

And so, now I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon.

Failure is a funny thing. Since day one, every one of us has tried to do absolutely everything to get away from ‘failure’, whether that is in sports, clinching the last deal of the day or even parenting. The truth is, is that we all fail. It’s a stone cold, horrible fact, but it’s true. “So why go on about it?” I hear you cry.

When you fail at something, it’s what you do with it that counts. Do you learn from your past failures and mistakes or do you carry it with you? Do you decide OK, I’ve not done it this time, but next time I know what not to do? Or, do you end up with your head in your hands with “All By Myself,” playing in the background?

I love the opening quote above, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. Thomas Edison was a man that suffered more failures then he did successes, and it’s true of all the big brands, big names and even the self made billionaires around today. No matter what economy they worked in, the country or the people they worked with, they all had one thing in common. Persistence.

Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school three times, Fred Astaire was told he couldn’t act and James Dyson, founder of the Dyson vacuum cleaner, built 5,126 prototypes before one worked. That’s a lot of persistence!

These are all people who failed, but they are all people who won. My point is readers, that yes, failure is disappointing, and yes it can be difficult, but it’s what you learn and take forward with you that guarantees success.

So next time you get the urge to stick on some Celine Dion, remember, it’s learning from your mistakes and persistence that will get you where you want to be.