Don’t Be Intimidated By Past Failures

“…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” Philippians 3:13‭-‬14 NIV

I started my first business at age 10, or rather, it was my first attempt at earning money. I had just gotten into Secondary School and my mum always ensured we took food to school.

I on the other hand got jealous of the other kids who had lunch money which they often used to just buy junk food. I wanted that money and I wanted the junk food. But I also wanted my mum’s food.

So I’d sell parts of my lunch to two friends who always complimented my mum’s cooking. With the money, I got what I wanted, and they got what they wanted. Win-win. It was fun while it lasted.

After that, I attempted several projects, many of which failed. There are times I’d look at all the mistakes and failures and ask myself why I just wasn’t focused like other people.

I’d see the strides others have made in short periods and just suddenly feel depressed. I’m sure this is one reason I took a long break from LinkedIn because all you see are the success stories.

But I often have to remind myself that each new day is an opportunity to start again and focus. I thought that you could only be intimidated by the successes of others. But even your failures can intimidate you into being less of yourself.

You refuse to put in the work for fear of failing. You decide to work less for fear of wasting time on something that may not succeed. You stop exploring because you don’t want to be disappointed.

The first failure I mentally and emotionally recorded was when I decided to teach the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) training program to a few University undergrads. I had just completed the program and wanted to raise money for my certification exams. I called the business “ROSS Solutions” and designed fliers which I posted all around my campus.

Nobody called.

I cried.

And I never did the exam.

More failures came after that but putting in the work isn’t negotiable. Every day, make a conscious decision to work hard and change the lives of those you’ve been called to serve.

You’ll be fine.