In order to do something great with our lives, we must be willing to take risks. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” as the saying goes. The fear of failure can be a deterrent, but only when you believe you gotta get things right every time.

We learn through our mistakes. When we do something correctly we aren’t required to learn a new, better way. Mistakes and setbacks are part of this imperfect life we are living.

Years ago, I was asked to be a guest teacher for a business principles college class. The curriculum I put together for the class was a list of eighteen lessons I learned during my career from mistakes I had made. We only got through five of them. Teaching the class is something I will always remember.

Success is a growth process. It rarely happens overnight, but it will happen when you work hard, work smart and refuse to quit when things get tough. You must be tougher!

Edison made mistakes. So did Einstein. Musk has blown up a lot of rockets while trying to figure out how to get one into space. We remember these individuals and others for their accomplishments. None of them published a memoir of their mistakes, but they could have.

Be willing to try and fail. Then be willing to try again. And again. And again. Until you find success. A dream without action is a waste…