The Other F Word

There is an old saying that’s often said by people when people beginning an arduous yet not nearly so impossible project:

“Failure is not an option”.

For those of us of a less-cynical, more adventurous and self-forgiving attitude, I have refined this to a more positive statement:

“Failure is a consideration but not a hindrance: Failure is a step, a learning curve and (most importantly) an opportunity to try again.”

Too lengthy? Here is yet another version that may also appeal to the more entrepreneurial:

“Failure only matters when it’s happening.”.

Hmmm. Whilst a head in the clouds attitude is good, make sure you can still see the path of truth. Let me change that again:

“Failure is often mistaken for finality.”

Yes, that’s it. Therefore, let us proceed onward and upwards.

BONUS POST:

Walk it till you Talk it

In the same way that some people fake it till they make it, I’ve learnt it is also important to walk the path long enough to be able to talk about it.

Whilst discussing with a new friend last Saturday night about potential job opportunity’s and appropriate work-skills, I got to thinking about the type of jobs that can be learnt upon the job. Even though I was telling him that, sure, I could work as Tech-Support for a government department, I was wondering whether my skills were up to par.

It’s been a few years since I’ve studied, and, in any case, most of what I know comes from 30 years of playing, typing, fiddling and using both with computers and programs. I’m yet to read the full manual for my Apple Touch.

I have the MCSE manuals at my fingertips to refer to for any query, plus I’ve read a few Microsoft user manuals in my time (and that’s never that fun!). I have very little framed-certificates on the wall to validate my skills, yet I don’t care: I’ve learnt so much from traipsing down life’s dirty roads, from listening attentively to the online-mentors and from reading so many varying articles online that now I can verify my skills through the actions I perform, the way I speak and the people I choose to align myself.

There are plenty of jobs that ask us for a certificate proving that we spent a multitude of years at university or TAFE or some other form of higher education.

Yet I’m one of those few people who can pick up most electronic device and learn it quickly and start working with it immediately.

So now I am wondering: Now that I’ve talked & walked in the shoes of the job I want, could I simply step into the shoes? I hope so. I’m raising my horizon one notch. Let’s see where it takes me!