Many people say that failure is the best teacher. Tech-expert and keynote speaker Gabe Zichermann recalls experiencing this firsthand when he began working with a game tech company as well as when he launched his own startup in 2018. Given his experiences, Gabe makes it a priority that attendees at his keynotes know that an instance of failure or collapse is not the be-all or end-all of one’s career.
In a recent article for The Next Web, Gabe gives an overview on the relationship he’s had with failure throughout his career. He delves deep into the concept of failure and explains the five stages one may experience when facing defeat.
Learning how to fail can help guide you to success.
According to Gabe, learning how to fail is a key step in turning failures into success. A leader who doesn’t know how to handle setbacks will not be a big help in moving their self or their team forward in the long-run. For this reason, Gabe says leaders must not only learn how to fail, but they must also be emotionally prepared for it.
The stages of failure will most likely send you through a whirlwind of emotions.
…And that’s okay. After working hard on a project, the last thing you’ll want is for all of it to go downhill. The important thing here is not to let things like denial, anger, or depression get the best of you.
Although acceptance is the final stage, it’s not necessarily the easiest, Gabe writes. During this final stage, it may be easy to revisit your failure all too often, reflecting on everything that went wrong. Gabe advises leaders not to rush this stage and instead, make sure they fully understand and accept their loss. This should make it significantly easier to cultivate future success with time.
Turning your failure into a new opportunity can lead to success.
After giving it some time and learning to accept the setback you have been faced with, you can now pave the way for future success. After Gabe made the decision to shut down his last startup, he said that he felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He still, however, revisited his failure and often wondered where he went wrong.
Gabe’s experience left him wondering, “If failure is such a good teacher why does no one teach you how to fail?” As a result, he has made it his mission to teach others how to fail. Through his newest project, Failosophy, Gabe aims to help others face their fear of failure and transform their lives (personal and professional) for the better.
If you’re interested in hearing what Gabe Zichermann has to say about overcoming failure, visit eaglestalentmanagement.com or call 1.800.345.5607 for more information on how to book him for your next event.
