There is a lot of talk about the importance of failure. During my Dare to Be Great workshop and Heroes Path seminar I talk about reframing failure and coming of with a new definition for failure. I also talk about the value of failure if we see it as an opportunity to learn, to grow and to find a better way of doing something.

Many of the leadership and entrepreneurial gurus talk about the importance of failure and encourage people to fail faster, and fail more often. There are books that encourage us to "Fail Fast, Fail Often."

What I have noticed over the years however is a level misunderstanding with the concept of "Fail to Succeed". People think that the experts are saying, "Just go out and fail a lot and somehow you will be successful." 

Recently I listened to a podcast interview with Lt. Col. Garth Massey on leadership. He is a Marine Corps officer and leadership trainer. Massey clarified this issue during the podcast by saying that it is not about failure, it is about striving. Striving to be a better leader, trainers, spouse or parent. Striving to grow your business. Striving to grow in any aspect of your live. And then understanding that while you are striving you will sometimes fail. When you fail you need to step back and ask yourself what you learned from that experience and how you can use that lesson to grow and continue to strive. 

It seems to me that it is an easier sell to people to challenge them to strive for excellence and dare to be great than it is to fail fast and fail often. I believe "What am I striving for today?" is a better question to ask yourself than "How am I going to fail today?"