There are many stories of failure after failure before success occurs, teaching us to never give up. A significant argument for not giving up from an innovation perspective is the learning that occurs. Each trial generates new information. We learn about what doesn’t work, or what combination of components works better.
Another point is that we aren’t very objective evaluators of our own work. On one hand, we tend to downplay success. So, if everything isn’t a resounding success it’s easy to toss the whole experience, when in fact there may be quite a bit of accomplishment in the effort.
What’s great about the online tools we now have is it’s so much cheaper to fail. For example, we’re moving to video training for emerging leaders delivered online (http://ELCircle.com). This is possible because online video is so much cheaper today then it was even a year ago. Frankly, we wouldn’t even consider our latest venture if we had to go to a studio and spend more than $5-10,000 on each video. But, with the current technology we can screw up, learn, fix it and provide value. And, if the project doesn’t work out, we’ve still learned a new skill.
Which brings me to another point. What’s the downside? If no one buys your idea and it doesn’t fly, can you say you learned something? In the ELCircle example, if it doesn’t work at all, we will have a big increase in our skill set that makes something else possible down the line.
Think of your idea as foundational. What is possible if you have this idea in place? The right answers give you the motivation to move forward. When success/fail are the only alternatives the effort might not make sense.
Now, let’s look at the other side. If everyone but your mother says you can’t sing, you probably can’t sing. I have a core group of advisors that are purposefully tough on me. If they don’t like an idea, I fight to convince them. If I feel they don’t get it, I find evidence to prove my point. If I can’t, maybe it’s not a good idea or the timing isn’t right, etc. and, then it’s time to move on to something else.
Don’t miss the fact that I fight to convince them. I don’t blindly follow their reaction. The healthy debate is set up in an adversarial way on purpose to challenge the idea. It makes the great ideas better, moves not so good ideas into the worth pursuing column, and justifies stopping effort on the bad ideas.
Be stubborn about quitting. Find value in the effort. Fail and learn. Be brilliant!
Photo credit: Jeff Ataway
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