Failure is a Better Teacher than Success

"Failure refers to the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success."  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure)

For all our efforts and our best intentions, we all fail on occasion.  Sometimes we fail miserably, and other times, not so much.

But failure is not necessarily a bad thing.  Failure is vital to the learning process, a way of filtering out what does and does not work.  For instance, you may try a new marketing technique for your business that is a total failure. You spent money on it, and it produced no new business.  So, you learned to never use that marketing technique again.  The failure was a lesson.

In business, we should explore new ideas and ways to work our businesses.  Experiment with different marketing concepts.  The experiment will either succeed or fail.  Then we move on to the next experiment, having learned from previous trials.

http://catalystmlm.com/wp-content/gallery/love-failure/love-mlm-failure-010.jpg

Using this pattern of exploring, experimenting and either succeeding or failing is a skill we need to hone.  When experimenting, if an idea is bringing no results, discontinue the trial.  As soon as you discover that what you are trying is not working, stop it immediately.  Do not keep wasting your time (and money).  

When you try something that is not successful, take time to analyze it.  Don’t just move on.  Look at what you did and why it failed.  In this way, you can examine all the components.  Perhaps part of the experiment is workable, worth using in your next trial.

I’d like to conclude with a few quotes about failure from some well known people.

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

Abraham Lincoln

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

Winston Churchill

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

Winston Churchill

"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."

Michael Jordan

"Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out."

Benjamin Franklin

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."

Coco Chanel

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James Armistead, Revolutionary War Spy, Unsung Hero

Much of this information was found at http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1963424_1963480_1963442,00.html.

Virtually all wars are fought with the help of spies, including the American Revolution. I am not an expert in American history, and I had never heard of James Armistead prior to seeing an episode of “Mysteries at the Museum” where his story was told.  I was fascinated, so I searched for more information about him online. 

Armistead was a slave born in the mid-1700’s in Virginia.  Both the British and Continental armies used spies to learn more about the activities of their enemy.  Armistead’s “master” gave him permission to join the revolutionary cause. There were many black men, both free and enslaved, were being used as spies on both sides.  James Armistead was unique, because he was a double agent being used by both sides.

Armistead was placed in the service under the (General) Marquis de Lafayette in about 1781.  Lafayette’s forces had been reduced by British General Charles Cornwallis’ troops after Benedict Arnold betrayal of the Continental Army.  

Lafayette was desperate for someone to provide him with information about the enemy’s movements. After gaining Lafayette’s trust by performing various jobs and tasks for him, Armistead was promised freedom if he worked as a spy for the Revolutionaries.  He began serving as an orderly and guide, posing as an escaped slave at Benedict Arnold’s camp. He acquired information which he sent to Lafayette.

After a time, Armistad was posted close to Cornwallis' camp where he was offered a position as a British spy, making him a “double agent.”   The revolutionaries then provided James with inaccurate information, which he brought back to Cornwallis.

Traveling between both sides, James learned that the British naval fleet planned to move 10,000 troops to Yorktown, Virginia.  They intended to make it a central post for their operation.

Providing this information to Lafayette and George Washington were able to seize the town and form a blockade that crippled the British military.  The results of this great victory subsequently brought about Cornwallis’ surrender on Oct. 19, 1781.

James Armistead’s actions were a huge contribution to America’s victory. Had he not provided the information to Lafayette – at the time he gave it to him – there may well have been a very different conclusion to the war.

With Lafayette’s recommendation, Armistead gained his freedom in 1787.  At that time he chose to add "Lafayette" to his name, to honor the general.

After receiving his freedom, he moved near New Kent, bought 40 acres of land, and began farming. He later married and raised a family.  He was granted a $40 annual pension by the Virginia legislature for his services during the American Revolution. He lived as a farmer in Virginia until his death in 1830.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook