Photo Credit – Stuart Seeger
Truth be told, I’m not a big sports fan. Sorry guys, I’d rather play (badly) than watch. But when I came across this quote by Michael Jordan, I just had to share it because embracing failure is something that we all need to learn to do better.
I’ve missed more than 9000 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.
Failure teaches us to wake up and pay attention. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your whole idea or concept is wrong. Maybe it’s the technique, timing, audience. Failure tells you to examine and investigate the problem. It begs you to take action.
What if we changed the quote to read something like this: I’ve emailed my resume to over 500 people. I’ve applied to over 300 jobs this year. 10 times I was selected for an interview, and failed to secure the job. Sound more familiar? Your search is telling you that something is not working. Whether it’s your resume and cover letter, the types of jobs you are applying for, your interview techniques or search strategies, what you’re doing isn’t working. If you’re nodding, and having déjá vu then maybe it’s time to reassess. Failing to secure an offer isn’t an indictment against your abilities and potential, it’s a statement about your job search.