Owning the Year’s Failures

By: Katie Myers Tuesday December 26, 2017 comments Tags: Fortune is in the Failure, failure, new year, F word, planning, strategy

Owning the Year’s Failures

It’s the end of another year and it’s time to examine what went well and what fell flat on its face. While we celebrate all the major and minor successes (and you absolutely should!), the time to scrutinize the things that didn’t work this year is just as important. As humans, we tend to feel a lot of negative emotions when we think about our failures: guilt, shame, frustration or disappointment. I’m here to tell you that failure is NOT a negative thing. The “F” word is your catalyst for dramatically improving your business. It’s time to look those failures straight in the eye and the come up with ways to overcome them.

What did you fail at this year?

The first step is being truly honest with yourself about where you failed. Make a list of things you meant to do this year that haven’t been accomplished, initiatives you launched that didn’t bear the right fruit, and things you wish you had done differently. Retrospect is our friend. As we go into the New Year, planning and strategizing what we want to accomplish, this insight can prove invaluable.

What do you need to do to overcome your shortfalls?

Own your shortcomings and failures so that you can start the brainstorming process and begin making adjustments and improvements. Acknowledging where you failed is the first step, then you can start coming up with solutions for the problems. If you are stumped about what to do next, or differently than last year, call in reinforcements. Ask your trusted advisors, power partners, and brand advocates what you could do to increase your chance of success. We don’t know what we don’t know. Insights are the key to overcoming our challenges.

Planning your 2018 strategy

If you’ve already put together your strategy for 2018, pull it back out. Using the information you’ve uncovered about your failures and the solutions you’ve found to turning them around, re-examine your plan and adjust accordingly. If you haven’t started putting together your 2018 strategy, it’s not too late! If you want to check off more wins in the next year, you need to know where you’re going.

I’d like to remind you that you aren’t alone. Everyone running their own businesses is experiencing just as many challenges when it comes to reaching their goals. Reach out for help when you hit roadblocks and resist that urge to give in. Own your failures and be proud of your hiccups, they’ve gotten you this far and can help you reach even greater heights!

If you’d like additional support to help your company reach even more growth in 2018, check out The Conversation Club! Designed for entrepreneurs, like you, that are tired of struggling in their business. Success takes practice, purpose and sometimes a swift kick in the hiney! We’re here for you.

About the Author: Katie Myers