SalesForce XP Publisher Mike Morrell Embraces Failure!

Failure Must Be an Option

By Mike Murrell

As published in: SalesForceXP - November-December 2010

The coaching staff of a high school football team I saw this year wore T-shirts on game nights that had "Failure is not an option!" printed in bold letters across the back. On one level, I understand the motivational tug of such a statement, especially when hammered into the heads of a bunch of teen-age boys who aren't fully aware of their potential.

It occurred to me, however, that a former high school coach who became one of the most successful coaches in the history of team sports at any level would have preferred that the shirts state, "Failure must be an option."

John Wooden embraced failure, not on a continuous basis, of course, but as a learning tool. There are dozens of books that document Wooden's philosophy on sports and life, and most of them include his sentiment that "if you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."

That spirit of taking chances is what this issue's cover story is all about. When we talk about sitting down to assess the past year and, more importantly, plan for the one ahead, we don't expect that you can predict with any more accuracy than your competitors what the business environment in your industry will bring. Some things can be spotted from a distance and some can't.

Our hope, rather, is that the story reminds you-indeed, inspires you-to make this planning process a formal exercise. Your competition may be tackling this duty in a more routine manner with far less enthusiasm. More importantly, we want to embolden you to incorporate some risks into your 2011 strategies.

Normally, these end-of-the-year messages are chockablock with feel-good wishes for continued success in the year ahead. I certainly wish that for you. But most of us have experienced awfully turbulent times in our recent business endeavors and we've had to make tough decisions. Some of them may have been wrong, but you'd probably agree that you're smarter and tougher for making them.

A few more failures wouldn't be the worst thing to come your way. Be a doer. Make mistakes.

Mike Murrell, Publisher