"Mistakes are not failures. They are proof that we are making an effort."

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2013-10-08) from his book, Sometimes You Win--Sometimes You Learn:Life's Greatest Lessons Are Gained from Our Losses (p. 80). Center Street. Kindle Edition.

This is such an important thought to start the New Year. John quoted management expert Peter Drucker who said, “I would never promote a person into a high-level job who was not making mistakes…. Otherwise he is sure to be mediocre.”

We're not created to be mediocre. We were created to make a difference. And January 2 is a great place to start in making a difference and realizing our potential in 2014.

How was 2013 for you? I had a great year in 2013. It was a tremendous privilege to have lived it but it is over. I cannot let the successes or failures hold me back in a new year. I must press forward with this new opportunity but I must do it with the full knowledge that I will make mistakes. Mistakes are not failures. They are proof that I are making an effort.

John told about Jack V. Matson, who while teaching at the University of Houston created a course called Failure 101 and organized an international conference, "Celebration of Failure." Matson said, “His students learned to equate failure with innovation instead of defeat, and it freed them up to get out of their comfort zone and try new things.”

Wouldn’t you like to do that in 2014, to be freed from your comfort zone and to try new things? I know that many of you will say, “No” but many others will be encouraged to step out and risk. This could be your year and it starts today.

So are you ready? Let’s free ourselves so we can make a difference.

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