fail2succeed

This will be short as I have just returned from Texas.  Ya’ll please excuse me if I tawk ah lit-le bit funnay.

We are leaving town and fixing for that warm frothy foamed java deemed the Latte.  Patiently, I await my uppers arrival while my husband entertains the back seat cow juice drinkers.  Dreamily my eyes wander over the cinnamon rolls and scones, but come to rest upon an inscribed coffee mug.  I suppose desk top bits of bumper sticker advice also serve to hold little devils of caffeine.  This one shouts at me:

“What would you do if you knew you could not fail.”

Assuming over their true intention, I laugh at the stupidity of this you-ain’t-no-Ghandi-cup.  Survey says? “Absolutely nothing.”  If one knew for a fact that one could not fail, what motivation would they find to put effort into anything at all?  Life’s challenges are only great because of the potential for failure.  Would you stay up late studying for collegiate exams if you knew your diploma was as good as framed?  No, no, no.  You’d drink an extra beer or five and watch Letterman.  Would you get up at 5am to put in valuable training time if you knew you would win the race?  Maybe….some of us just like 5am, but you get my point.

Failing is what makes succeeding so bloody fantastic.  The ecstasy of accomplishment is only valued under the threat of defeat.  To appreciate your own highs you have got to have walked your lows.

A modification to that meddlesome mug:

“What would you do if you knew you could not fail?  Maybe drink another cup of coffee.  What would you do if you knew there was the great potential for failure? Get back to work and work a lot harder.  What will you do when you do not fail?  Put something besides coffee in this cup.  Cheers!”

~ by drea on July 15, 2008.