The other dirty “F” word.

You know that saying, “If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough”?

Someone (a mentor) reminded me of this when we started Airoc, and it’s one of the best pieces of advice we’ve ever received.

Here’s why:

Failure triggers an emotional response. It almost feels like the other dirty “F” word.

Nobody wants to fail.

We want to be seen as successful, thriving and excelling at ‘that’ thing.

But when you’re pushing beyond your limits, experimenting, and exploring new areas, how realistic is it to think we’ll always get it right?

The thing is, as much fear as failure brings, it’s often matched (or even surpassed) by exhilaration.

The small thrill of following your curiosity and seeing what happens.

It’s empowering because you’re doing it for you, on your terms. And there’s no replacement for lived experience.

Now, being a practical kinda gal, I always think about the application of these concepts.

So, how do we become less afraid of failure? And when it happens, how do we “fail forward”?

Here’s what I think:

1. Detach your self-worth from the outcome.

2. Trust your instincts. There will always be someone seemingly more experienced, talented or resourced. Don’t worry about them. Do what feels right.

3. See risk and uncertainty as essential to the process.

4. Trust that you already have the internal resources to handle whatever comes, no matter the result.

Also… what’s the worst that could happen?