I want to begin by saying I do not like to fail. Just ask anyone who has played Yahtzee with me! I don’t like to lose.
What I have learned, though, from countless games and years in business is that it is inevitable!
Sometimes, I lose by just a little. Say 5 points, or my income dips a bit. Other times it is tragic. Maybe 100 points or a business venture I have been counting on and broadcasting for months … crashes and burns. It is a total failure.
I could fill a book with these failures – actually, I did! In my book Evolve Your Coaching Business, many of my stories and examples are of my failures.
WHY, you may ask??
I was reminded of the power of failure by my podcast guest. My dear friend and extraordinary coach, Abigail Morgan Prout.
In our conversation, she spoke of her own journey as a professional coach and how her biggest increases in earnings came from the learning she gained when she crashed and burned and shared her story with others. For their learning.
There is something magical that happens when we look for learning in everything.
This is what we do with our clients, and it works just as beautifully when applied to running a business.
The only REAL failure is to fail to look for the learning.
What Abigail pointed out that I think is super important is to learn and then pass that learning on.
When you can do that, it raises everyone up!
The people who you share with will sense your vulnerability and relate on a personal level having had failures of their own.
The magic happens when, in that sharing, others learn something new. They get a glimpse of a possibility for themselves.
They can learn ways of thinking that don’t serve, action taken from fear rarely works out, or it would be a lesson in resilience.
In our chat, Abigail and I also talked about how important learning is if you not only want to succeed but actually enjoy yourself as you build and sustain a coaching business. Having a thirst for learning goes a long way.
When you are open, curious and willing to learn and share your stories with others, it also breaks up that awful negative way of thinking about perfection or comparing yourself to others.
It will help you stand out as someone who is a leader.
Someone who is human, who cares, and who has the confidence and humility to show the world your brightest moments as well as the dark days we all have.
The next time you “crash and burn” in one of your business endeavors, I encourage you to pause and take time to learn.
Consider sharing those lessons with others for your benefit as well as the value you will be bringing to them in your vulnerable truth-telling.
Listen to the podcast below to hear the brilliant insights Abigail offers for coaches who want to live fully in their careers and life.
Ep.2: Abigail Prout – The Creative Power of Vision for Coaches
In this eye-opening episode, Kat sits down with Abigail Morgan Prout to delve deep into the concept of vision. The conversation offers inspiration to those facing the challenges and joys of being a coach in a business that has a positive impact.
