The Redemption Arc: 7 Tips for Overcoming Failure and Achieving Success

Sometimes, you can have everything lined up well with your career—the flash coworking office space, the clients, the business plan—you’re all set. But, regardless of having all those ducks in a row, you’re always at risk of failing. 

On the plus side, with every failure comes the opportunity to grow, move forward in new ways, and redefine what it means to succeed. The sun will always set on some aspects of your life, but you can also rely on it to rise again. To help you get more comfortable with these inevitable changes, here are seven practical tips: 

1. Embrace Failure

Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” Edison used each failure as a fuel to propel him forward until he reached success. He embraced this unusual fuel source. 

How many chances at success have you missed by seeing failure as the end rather than a part of the process?

2. Take Risks

If you struggle to take risks in your career, you may find yourself struggling to get ahead. If you’re a woman, you’re at even greater risk of failing to take risks. Indeed, while nearly 70% of women report taking smaller risks to advance their career, only 43% will take the bigger risks most likely to boost their careers. 

When you see failure as a chance to grow, you’re more willing to take risks and learn from your mistakes. In turn, this makes you more likely to succeed long term because you embrace growth—including all the ups and downs. 

3. Admit To Your Mistakes

Statistics tell us that the majority of leaders around the world do not admit mistakes. This, in itself, is a mistake because pointing fingers gets you nowhere. By taking responsibility for your mistakes, you take more control over what happens next. You can control how the mistake is acknowledged, how colleagues and clients perceive you, and what lessons you take with you as you turn things around. 

4. Don’t Dwell

Dwelling (or ruminating) can cause or increase feelings of anxiety and depression. Acknowledge the mistake, but don’t let it stay center stage for long. Process the lesson, release the negative emotions associated with it, and move forward. 

5. Set Goals

Setting goals after failure is a great way to shift the focus to the future. But they need to be achievable goals. Researchers have found that extremely difficult or risky goals can actually have a detrimental impact on your motivation, self-esteem, and confidence. So, instead of taking a “go hard or go home” mentality, set small, bite size goals that will help you gradually rebuild your confidence and create sustainable progress over time. 

6. Surround Yourself With The Right People

Your support system will be there to pick you up when you fail and encouragement to succeed. As well as friends and family, surround yourself with those you find inspirational, motivational, or who may be mentoring you in some way. You don’t want to end up in an echo chamber filled only with “Yes men.” However, you can avoid social scenarios with people who are negative about everything. 

7. Persist

It took J. K. Rowling twelve publisher rejections before Harry Potter was accepted. Hers was a case of building resilience and continuing to try, even in the face of adversity. Continue the forward motion, and no failure will ever leave you stagnating for too long. 

Failure does not define you, it’s how you respond to those failures that make you who you are. 

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Whatever happens, you’ve got this.