I hate failing. Obviously, no one likes to fail, but one event made me see that I actually feared failing so much that I missed key opportunities.
When I first made it onto the U.S. Ski Team, I was terrified to do any interviews. The vice president of communications for the team asked me if I would do it if I knew I wouldn’t fail. It seemed like a ridiculous question—until I realized I so feared failing miserably in front of the camera that I was avoiding valuable media opportunities.
I had to adopt a new attitude, so I volunteered to do the ski team’s next interview. To be honest, I don’t think that first interview went much better than I expected, but I really wouldn’t say I failed. And the experience opened up a whole new world for me. I never would have thought that shy girl in front of the camera would now be someone who loves to get up on stage and speak to huge audiences as a successful motivational speaker.
Ask yourself, “If I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I try?” After you answer this question, ask yourself why it would be so awful to fail at the task or activity. We learn much more from our failures than we learn from our accomplishments.
Remind yourself that everyone fails at numerous things in life, and it’s the failures and setbacks that help us grow and improve. Go out there and attempt that thing you would try if you knew you couldn’t fail. Even if you do fail, you might succeed the next time.
What things would you be willing to do if you didn’t worry about failing?
********** Motivational Weight Management Tip **********
My experience of working with the Biggest Loser contestants and Symtrimics has inspired me to share motivational diet, health, and wellness tips. These tools have been driven from actual advice communicated with contestants. This week's tip: I’d like to share a great quote by Allard Lowenstein that will help you in setting your new health and fitness goals for the year. “The question should be, is it worth trying to do, not can it be done.” And I think you know the answer to this.
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Nikki Stone won Olympic gold after she overcame a near career-ending spinal injury to win America’s first gold medal in the sport of Aerial Skiing. She was honored with the task of helping train the current Olympians on overcoming distractions, dealing with pressures, and harnessing confidence going into the Vancouver Olympics. And most recently, she was asked to be the motivational expert for a new Biggest Loser regional program.
Stone now works as a motivational speaker and recently authored the much-talked-about inspirational book When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out (with contributors Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Tommy Hilfiger, and more). For more information, please visit www.WhenTurtlesFly.com and www.NikkiStone.com.