One More Thing I Learned from Failing

The other piece I wrote on the topic of failing was a practical, on the job perspective. A few steps to take in order to ensure clarity at work to do your best to avoid failing.

This one is more personal and, I think, ultimately more important.

This is more nuanced than the standard work life balance or work life integration perspective. I was blessed to learn as a younger man to not take time with my family for granted – after spending the first decade of my career doing just that. Don’t get me wrong – if you have a family, absolutely do not miss the times with them that you will never get back due to work. It is never too late to learn that lesson.

What I have learned is to not allow stressors from your work life get in the way of who YOU are as a person and what YOU enjoy doing.

Do not allow yourself to get so wrapped up in, so worried about, or so overwhelmed with what’s going on in your job that you lose who you are, or neglect things you are passionate about.

And most certainly do not let tough times at work define who you are.

For instance, if you love expressing yourself in writing, don’t go 4 years without posting to your blog. It really doesn’t matter how many readers there might be. The act of playing with ideas, finding new connections in those ideas, organizing my thoughts, then externalizing it in writing is the release for me.

And it builds on itself, keeps the mind active and turning over new learning, finding new connections. And the sharpness it produces spills into sharpness and productivity in the job.

But, more importantly, it means for my family and friends I’m more engaged, more happy, more curious, more open to new things.

Your thing may not be writing. I also love to read actual books, play golf, go to baseball games, listen to all kinds of music, and taking day trips with my lovely wife exploring places we’ve never been.

I strongly believe it’s important to bring the whole person to whatever you’re doing. I don’t believe there is a me at work and a me at home and a me with my friends and me as a writer.

All the people you touch in your life deserve to get all of you when you’re with them.