| Week
One: An
Honest Look at Failure
Nobody likes the
word failure. It brings up images and feelings of defeat,
of loss, of suffering and shame. I admit when I read
my assigned topic, I thought, "Why do I have to
write about something so depressing and negative? Nobody
wants to read about failure." I don't even want
to think about the times I've failed. Those thoughts
are in mental closet labeled "Bad Things Inside!
Keep Out!"
After I pulled
my emotional self (which was clinging to the ceiling
like a terrified kitten) down to the level where the
rational people live, I calmed down enough to start
exploring the idea. Like a lot of writers, I decided
to look up the word I'm writing about as a starting
point. To my surprise, the first definition offered
by Webster for failure is, "to deceive." As
Christian women we know who's involved anytime the word
deceive is mentioned. We know deception is always from
the devil.
Let me share a failure
with you.
I owned an advertising
agency about 10 years ago. Over several years we had built
an impressive client base including a national food account,
a large teaching hospital, a local retailer, and several arts/cultural
organizations. Our staff included people who brought a real
spirit of excellence to their work and were warm-hearted and
fun to be around. We had expanded and remodeled our office
space and upgraded our equipment.
Within one week, we lost
two of our largest accounts and a fire was set in the office
complex in which we were housed. We found that we were under-insured
and these losses happened at the time of year when the agency
was most financially extended and therefore most vulnerable.
We had to close shop and eventually were forced into bankruptcy. The agency failed. I had failed. I was a failure. At that
time, the best we could do was help our employees find jobs,
assist our clients find other agencies or free lancers to
take over the work and to salvage and donate equipment and
furnishings to others.
I was devastated. I was depressed.
It was hard to understand why it happened to us and it was
even harder to get out of bed each day and keep going.
A New Perspective
Years later, in very
different circumstances, I ran into several former staff members
and clients. They told me the agency was a success! One told
me it was the best place she has ever worked. She said, "I
did some of my best work there and I really learned how to
be a professional. We all got along so well it was fun to
come to work."
Another told me he would never forget
how we made calls and helped him secure a new job. He said,
"I never missed a paycheck because of what you did."
During a chance meeting at a professional conference a former
client said that they still use elements of the public relations
and crisis communications plan our agency developed. She said,
"Your work has really stood the test of time."
So,
what I came to realize (and I am grateful that God allowed
me to get the message) is that we created a business which
provided a nurturing work environment and produced excellent
work for clients. Both of those accomplishments required a
lot of hard work and had a lasting and positive impact in
the lives of our staff and for our clients. They were the
true measure of our success.
The one-size fits all
definition of success - wealth, fame, possessions - is a deception. It is reinforced by the media, by teachers, business leaders
and sadly, sometimes even by pastors and ministers. My failure
helped me grow in spirit, become a wiser business person,
and know in my soul that the only true failure is not to try;
not to do the very best that you are capable of doing; not
to work with the idea of serving others; not to do all things
as unto God.
I am blessed to have an agency again. The agency
I have now provides me with a comfortable living, allows me
to work with family, allows me to work a far less stressful
schedule, and to work with a variety of interesting clients
producing excellent work. I still have dreams and ambitions
for the agency and for myself. Because of this, I know there
is the possibility of failure for sure in my future! I also
know I will weather future failures with far more grace than
I had before.
Most people have been
so conditioned, or socialized to believe that failure is final,
we have been taught to avoid failure (or even the appearance
of failure) at all costs. Even the very word can make us fearful
-- so fearful that we forget that success is the next step.
Yes, its one of those spiritual laws, that success ALWAYS
follows what you believe is failure. Keep the truth in your
heart that at the crucifixion Jesus was considered a failure. He had not come into a kingdom of worldly wealth, it seemed
as if he had no power (not even to save his own life), most
of his supporters had abandoned him and were hiding in fear.
Not a very successful ministry at all. But, in three short
days He rose from the dead with the keys of heaven and hell,
life and death, and all power in His hands. His success is
our success.
Redefine Success
This is where it really
gets interesting. Although the world's definition for failure
is a deception, there can be real failure in the sight of
God. Meditate on what real failure is. It is not having a
low bank balance or a small office or even a small staff.
- Real failure is not walking in integrity.
- Real failure is
not doing your best.
- Real failure is not honoring God in your
work.
- Real failure is not putting God first in your life.
- Real failure is being unkind.
- Real failure is being impatient.
- Real failure is not helping others when you can.
- Real failure
is always putting your work before your family.
- Real failure
is not getting enough rest to keep you in good spirits.
- Real
failure is creating a life so out of balance and filled with
so much stress that it causes poor health.
When we look at
these measures, many of us would be counted as failures. However,
the good news is, with God we can grow into success through
Christ. I know you are thinking, but I'm not Christ. And,
I'm telling you that you are a co-heir with Him and because
of that we must believe in a higher definition of success.
Let me encourage you to believe that anything you may think
of as a failure is not final. It is a step in the process
of learning and growing.
We should always start
in the spirit and then move to the physical or practical.
Examine your own definition of success. Look at a past failure.
Don't be afraid. Look as if you were reviewing the situation
of a dear friend. Think about how that failure impacted her
life. Think about how it helped her grow. Think about how
she is moving forward. Be honest. And above all, be compassionate.
|
Free
E-zine Sign Up
