Overcoming failure in life and business

Failure is relative. It could be a driving force to success or the final nail on the coffin. And as humans the ability to rise up to responsibilities or face failure squarely almost always determines success in life and business.

Most individuals arguably have a love-hate relationship with failure. While some learn from their failures, the burden of failure proves too much to handle for others. But how should young people approach the concept of failure in life and in business?

“I hate failure. I really, really hate it. It’s humiliating and demoralising. I love failure. I really, really love it. It’s liberating and horizon expanding,” opines Subomi Plumptre, a leading African strategist focused on brands, business and social media and a Mara Mentor. According to her: “nothing bitch-slaps humility into you like failure.” Below is her perspective on failure:

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in one leadership role or another. In Primary School, I was class lead for Quantitative Analysis in Math Class then in Secondary School I founded the institution’s first Cooperative Society. By the time I got to University, I was leading a Choral Group. In the group, I learnt valuable lessons that shaped my philosophy of failure and more importantly, how to lead teams.

Every year, my choral group put up a gala event to which the whole school was invited. We had a well-deserved reputation for being the best in school so we drew a large crowd. In my second year in school, I was handed the baton of leadership for the group, overseeing members much older than I. In typical fashion, I proceeded to drive everyone hard.

We had overnight practice. We took songs over and over if we fumbled. Any idea or contribution that I deemed unworthy was summarily dismissed. As we approached the date of the gala night, everyone but me knew the group was exhausted and at sub-par performance levels. I pushed on nonetheless.

Eventually, the gala came and went but it was a spectacular failure. Choristers had lost their voices, songs were out of tune, and performances were lacklustre and unenergetic. We were royally mortified and disgraced.

Notwithstanding the pain, I learnt a few hard lessons that day. You could say I was schooled by failure. Here are a few of them:

1. People come first: Never place the success of a business or project above the team. Without people, there’ll be no business.

2. Manage capacity: In a team, everyone isn’t at the same level of ability or passion. It’s your job as a leader to build your people and coax the best from them. Remember, oftentimes your team can’t see what you see. You must infuse them with your vision and passion.

3. Pick yourself up: Learn quickly from failure and face the next challenge squarely. No matter the humiliation, your next success is the best vindication.

4. Be humble: You are neither infallible nor invincible. Listen to the opinions of others and implement their suggestions. The key to your success may lie with someone else.

Subomi’s parting words: “As you journey along in business, there will be failure. Don’t shy away from the possibility but never, ever give up.”

We wish you great success!

Subomi Plumptre