Determination vs. Failure: The Unseen Battle in the Quest for Success

"Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." These words by Og Mandino are not just a mantra for the optimist but a battle cry for anyone who’s ever tried, stumbled, and dared to rise again. But why is it that we give such credence to determination in the pursuit of success? And how does failure fit into the equation?

Failure Grabs The Spotlight

Think about it: when was the last time a story about seamless, issue-free success captivated your attention? Odds are, it's the tales of overcoming adversity that catch your eye. Failure is dramatic, newsworthy, and laden with emotion—it grabs attention like nothing else. As they say, "Success is not newsworthy; it's the struggle that sells the story."

But why is paying attention to failure important?

Paying attention to our failures is like giving a spotlight to the lessons we need to learn. Acknowledging failure means you're aware of what's at stake, and what's at stake is a crucial fuel for determination.

Let's look at some real-world examples that encapsulate the essence of failure and determination.

1. Steve Jobs: After being ousted from Apple, Jobs could have let that failure define him. Instead, he founded NeXT and Pixar, harnessed his determination, and returned to Apple to lead it to new heights.

1. Michael Jordan: Cut from his high school basketball team, Jordan's failure fueled his determination. He trained rigorously, turning pain into progress, leading to six NBA championships.

1. J.K. Rowling: Living on welfare, Rowling faced rejection from publishers. Her determination produced a series that ignited a global phenomenon.

These narratives are engaging because they show that failure is an event, not a person. They inspire by revealing the peaks and valleys on the road to success.

Engaging with the Lessons of Failure

Once failure has our attention, we begin to dissect it, engage with it, and become interested in what went wrong. This is where determination starts to build. You've probably heard the story of Thomas Edison and his ten thousand attempts to invent the lightbulb. His reaction to "failure"? Each misstep was merely another way that did not work, bringing him closer to the final solution.

But what makes us interested in failure rather than discouraged?

It’s the intrinsic belief that you are more than the event of failure—that you're a work in progress. This mindset transforms the way we engage with setbacks, turning them into puzzles waiting to be solved.

Cultivating a Hunger to Improve

Desire evolves from interest when we visualize overcoming our failures. It's where our mindset shifts from "I've failed" to "I want to be better." Success stops being measured by the absence of failure and starts embodying the idea of being better today than you were yesterday.

How do we cultivate desire from our failures?

By setting personal benchmarks for improvement. When J.K. Rowling was rejected by multiple publishers, it wasn’t the end of the road; her desire to see her work in print spurred her determination to keep submitting her manuscript.

Determination Drives Success

Failure might knock you down, but determination charts the course forward. Many entrepreneurs live by this phase; they experiment, fail, learn, and try again until they succeed.

But how does one ensure that determination fuels action and not just wishful thinking?

The key is in setting actionable goals grounded in reality. Elon Musk’s determination to revolutionize space travel is notable not because of the failures he's encountered, but because each failure is followed by recalibrated actions aimed at making space travel a tangible reality.

Fail Forward with Determination

So now, ask yourself: Have you allowed failure to define you? Or are you ready to defy it with unwavering determination? Remember, success isn't a straight line; it's a complex maze that requires perseverance. I remember when I was playing little league baseball that my coach would always tell his players to “persevere, you will beat this!” on every struggle we had during a game.  He would always tell us that our mind is stronger when we believe that success will come.

Begin by believing that you are bigger than any failure. Next, engage with your setbacks by learning from them. Nurture the hunger to surpass your past self and translate your desire into actionable steps.

The Question Is: Are You Ready to Embrace This Journey?

Believe in the power of resilience. If determination fuels your actions, failure becomes nothing more than a footnote in your story of success. Stand tall and take charge.

Today, pledge to be better than yesterday, and bring determination to the foreground of your personal quest. Remember, the path may twist and turn, but the destination remains attainable with steadfast determination.

Now, tell me: What will you do differently today, knowing that determination – and not the avoidance of failure – is the true harbinger of success?

Final thoughts:

Don’t just sit there, act on your determination. Reflect on your recent setbacks, analyze them with a fresh lens, and create a plan that propels you toward success. Your future self will thank you for the courage to continue, the will to improve, and the determination to triumph.