The ABC and Failing forward to Success
What do you do when some or one of you plans fail on your way to your goal and dream? Well that is where the ABC and failing forward to success come into play. There is a culture of admitting failure, accepting it, and learning from it. By doing so, we are able to move past small failures and consistently improve and innovate on the ways that we are working, thereby (hopefully) avoiding larger failures later on. We refer to this process of learning from mistakes as “failing forward.”
How many times have you worked on a project or plan that did not work out as you hoped it would? Well, just recently it happened to me. There is some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that a recent plan of mine did not work out as I hoped it would, but is that really bad news or is there something good that I can learned from the experience? Well, the good news is that I discovered one thing that won’t work. Like Tomas Edison said,
“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
After this happened to me one of my good friends, Donna Merrill, sent me this card below on my Facebook wall, and that just put me in a new vibration level of thinking about failure and made me realize that I did not fail but only found a method that did not work.
So what do you need to do if plan A does not work?
A. Look deep into plan A and see if you can find something that you did or did not do that you must not repeat in plan B.
B. Willie Jolley says in his book “A Setback Is a Setup for a Comeback”, “You must be willing to change, so you need to find the things that you need to change, like the way you think, your perspective,your attitude, and actions.”
C. You need to decide that you will not give up and change the things you need to change in order the get to you dream, the moment you decide is the moment you change direction on your way to success.
D. You must decide to make an effective decision with a vision and then apply action towards your dreams (Vision, Decision and Action Leads to success).
E. Focus on your goal and dream, because if the dream is big enough the obstacles do not matter.
F. Ask yourself, “What is it that what I want to achieve and where do I want to go?” If you know where you want to go, you will get there no matter what.
G. Take new action towards your goal. “Action is the foundational key to all success.” Pablo Picasso
H. You must have a desire to succeed, no matter how big the obstacles that you face. You must have the attitude of an ant. No matter how big the obstacle they face, they find a way how go over it.
I. The last thing you need to do to fail forward is to know and believewhat the ancient text says, “All things will work out for good.”
Whatever happens, learn from the experience, think about what it was that prevented your plan from succeeding, and move on to Plan B with the steps I’ve lined out above.
Remember . . . If plan A did not work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet and unlimited plans in the universe that are waiting for you to use to reach your dream.
So with this said I hope I was able to open “The ABC and Failing forward to Success” for you, just remember, never give up no matter how many letters of the alphabet you have to use to get there.
Thanks for reading my blog and your comments, I hope I could help you to fail forward. 
I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I definitely enjoy reading everything that is posted on your blog.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Theuns, It is a wonderful project with heart and desire to make a difference in the world. I so appreciate your positive attitude about your gratitude project not coming to fruition like you expected. You just never know what is around the corner.
All the best to you!
Your friend,
Lynn
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Hi Theuns:
Accepting failure and learning from it is definitely key to success.
Thanks for the inspiring post!
Kevin
Kevin Martineau would like you to read Be an encourager today
Theuns, I love this post. It’s great timing for me to read this, as I’ve experienced some failure lately. I liked Step A: Look into the failure to uncover what my responsibility was. Only by taking personal responsibility to learn from my mistakes can I change direction. And the next step is to develop a personal action plan to achieve a new vision and direction for a better outcome.
Steve Borgman would like you to read People Rejection: 5 Ways to Deal With People Who Put You Down
Thx Steven
I agree with you.
Regards
Theuns
Hi Theuns,
I loved your post. I agree with the fact that failing is not really failing unless you have decided not to get back up and try again. Actually, I feel it is important to mention that a failure is never really a failure viewed from the outside. Often, because people have a different perspective then us on what we are trying to accomplish, they will never view your project as a failure but rather they will find you extremely courageous and tenacious for believing in what you do. We are much too quick on judging ourselves and labeling are efforts as a failure. We are harder on ourselves then anybody around us. Let’s be kind to ourselves and continue our journey forward. Great share…Thanks ~ Nathalie
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Hi Nathalie
Thx a lot for your Great comment I agree 100% with you with what you just say .:-)
Regards
Theuns
One thing I always remind myself of when I get overwhelmed is how Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before getting the light bulb right.
Great article.
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hi Theuns,
Life is a process and we would never learn without bumps in the road. As you put it, falling forward. Watch any kid learning to ride a bicycle and you know how many times a kid must fall before becoming a cyclist. I know you are in process just as each one of us is. Even when you think someone else has reached success, they are still in process. That is what is fun about life! Enjoy the process and you will have a wonderful happy life.
Best wishes,
Clare
clare@holistic health would like you to read Water – Could You Be Dying Of Dehydration?
Hi Clare
I so agree with you, as they say the best part is not when you get to your Goal or dream but every thing that you learn on the way to it .
Regards
Theuns
Thoughtful, inspiring and thought provoking Theuns. We are all capable of great things in our own way… just takes belief, focus and determination to set ourselves on the right track. Good luck with your quest
)
Sadie-Michaela Harris would like you to read Facebook Timeline for Pages is Now Live | How to Guide Here!
Thx Sadie
I agree with you , we just need to keep on keeping on.
Regards
Theuns
Hi Theuns,
I don’t have any concerns about failing to reach a goal or outcome. For me the fun is in the creative process. Some things take off and do well and others don’t.
Justin Mazza would like you to read Do Spiritual People Get Angry and Show Other Negative Emotions
Hi Justin
Jip I agree with you also a they say some will some will not so what move on to the next plan
and keep on moving forward till you get the plan that did work
Regards
Theuns
Theuns,
You know this kind of thinking has kept me going in my darkest moments. We’ve all been there. With the best of intentions we’ve spent time and money on a project to learn it wasn’t going to turn out. Turning point, cross-road – stick with it or give up.
I just posted a topic that referenced “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” There is a paradox in that, with a key to unlock the paradox at the end of my post.
Thanks for allowing me to share on your blog. Your post is superb, a wonderful reminder to keep on going. Oh, and when you reach “Z”, there is always “A1″, “B1″, “C1″!!
In Clarity and Success!
RICK
Rick Lelchuk would like you to read The Network Marketing Paradox
Thx A lot Rick
I love what you just said and agree with you if you don’t quit you will win on the end
no matter what.
Regards
Theuns
PS I will go to your blog THX
A truly valuable lesson. We all need to learn from our past experiences… failure.. well we can call it that..mistake whatever.. we didn’t’ get where we wanted so a different approach is what is needed… Next! Wonderful post, Theuns.. I look forward to seeing what happens for the next step!! Best of luck!
Holly would like you to read Getting Older Sucks But It Doesn’t Have To
Hi Holly THX
Well you will be part of the next step after you reply on my mail today
in FB THX soon every one wil know what the next step will be
Regards
Theuns
That was very inspiring! Just imagine, how lucky the Chinese people are, they’ve got even more letters (symbols) in their alphabet. LOL
Laura would like you to read Easter is hunting me down…
Hi Laura
Wow thanks I am glad that I could Inspire you, Wow i think we need to learn
Chinese LOL
Regards
Theuns
Great, Great article! Sometimes persistence is the most important key to success. Very few people are going to know what to do the first time. I am still adjusting my business model as I type this comment!
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THX Martin I am glad i could help
Hi Theuns,
Failing to success is a valuable lesson that I am thankful to have learned, although it would have been great to have learned in earlier in life. Like many, I once allowed failure to devastate me. I work at Learning from mistakes. Sometimes the best lessons are about what NOT to do.
Rachel Lavern would like you to read The Secret to Meeting Your Goals
THx Rachel
Yes i agree what you say about the Lessons.
Regards
Theuns
Hi Theuns, I totally agree with Nicole. It’s all about how you walk the path. You’re successful with all the knowledge you know already. You’ll just be more successful as time goes on. I know when you get there you will never settle for that. The sky is the limit!
Rick Salas
Rick Salas would like you to read Why Your San Antonio Network Marketing Business Might Struggle
Hi Rick
Thanks for this great uplifting Comment yes the sky is the limit.
regards
Theuns
Tanks for sharing this nice and inspiring article! With your helpful advices, it can be easier to be able to turn our mistakes into benefits, if we can learn from them.
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Thx Julie
I agre with you 100% make it a great day
Regards
Theuns
Hi Theuns,
This is a post that everyone who feel disapointed and ready to give up cause of a failure should read. There is no one who have not failed in something (only someone who nevers take action can say that he/she never failed) every failure is actually a lesson that works as a step to the path for success, thanks for sharing…
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Hi Thx Kosta for this great reply you make me feel good about helping people with this post.
Regards
Theuns
Excellent advice Theuns!
We learn from failure and is is so important to understand that.
And yet we fear it and it holds us back.
Peter
Peter Fuller MBA would like you to read If You Had To Retire In 2012 What Would Your Life Be Like?
Definitely persevere even after you have failed. If you just give up, then it means that you were not open-minded enough to learn from the experience.
It takes a lot of work to succeed, but I know you will, Theuns.
Nile would like you to read Why Anonymous Blogging Is Not for Serious Bloggers
Excellent Post Theuns,
I have always loved stories of when people overcome adversity and create something great. Edison was always an inspiration for me. I was mad that his birthday was never a holiday when I was little because I was born on his birthday, Feb 11 and could have always had my birthday off!
I love the steps that you share. It’s important to have some practical tools and guidelines to work with like these rather than just the state of mind alone.
Another great thing that can come about when things “fall apart” is that when things are easy, we can glide by on autopilot and miss many opportunities for growth. When we hit a snag, it gives us a chance to stop and really look around and hopefully create something totally new.
Paul Reimers would like you to read A Powerful Technique to Make Decisions Easy
Thx Paul for this great Comment I love what you say and agree with you 100%.
I love the pic that Donna sent you
And I agree with it totally – there are another 25 letters and that means 25 more plans 
Thanks for sharing this inspiring post, it’s a cracking read.
Sarah Arrow would like you to read Storytelling and emotional connections in blog posts
Thx Sara
Yes it does not matter if you fall it matter if you stand up again and I did.
Regards
Theuns
Thx Sarah For you comment and i am glad you like what you did read
Theuns
Hey Theuns,
Just like the old energizer bunny commercials we must keep going and keep going! It is so important that when we face failure we take it from a learning experience rather than a negative one. I like how you mentioned the perverseness of an ant. “You must have the attitude of an ant. No matter how big the obstacle they face, they find a way how go over it.” This is so true to my inner self. I always try figure out new challenges and then figure out how to deal with the obstacle because for every obstacle there is a solution and opportunity.
Kyle
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Hi Kyle Jip I agree Thx for the comment i love it
Theuns,
Love all the great, positive and motivational quotes in this blog post. Love the one by Thomas Edison! One of the greatest inventors of all times did NOT fail 10,000 times but only got closer to his goal with each “failure” with the lightbulb!
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THX Jim For your Great Reply I am glad you love the Q’s
Focus on your goal and dream because if the dream is big enough the obstacles do not matter. It seems to be so prevalent in our world to start at the beginning rather than with what we want as an outcome. And focusing on the outcome is so much easier than trying to begin by guessing where we want to end up.
An excellent post, thank you for this today.
Michael would like you to read Standing On The Scale
THX Michael i am glad it was great to read.
Thx Matquita
I am glad it is near to your heard and feel free to share it to your Team.
Regards
Theuns
Theuns,
I have been humbled by my attempts to build an online following. When people know, like and trust me, they are eager to join my programs. But how do I reach all those people who don’t yet know that their lives will truly transform by Healing Through Love. I am in the continual process of falling forward. And I don’t even consider past activities as failures but rather stepping stones toward success. We take small steps, and sometimes large steps, toward our goals. But there may be many more steps we didn’t see when we started on the path. But if we keep taking steps and keep moving forward, eventually we WILL arrive at our destination.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone would like you to read Tips for Co-Parenting After Divorce by Guest Blogger Scott Morgan
Thanks Dr Eric
I so agree with you it is one step at a time that help you to get were you want to go.
Regards
Theuns
Persistently marching on. There must be a new or better path towards the big goal. And besides, it is all in the way you walk the path, it is not really about the destination.
Hi Nicole
Thx for you Comment and i Agree 100% with you, it is a amazing one that i am on.
Regards
Theuns
Hi Theuns, I am so happy I had an impact on your “success.” Failing forward is a great phrase. I know how much you want to bring the grAttitude Game to the world. You started with plan A. But look at what it brought to you. So many great people that love your idea and YOU! That is a gift that money cannot buy.
So plan A brought you some great people to stand by your side, Plan B will have a higher impact.
TRUST! Think about that word. It is important in the scheme of things when we talk about the Law of Attraction.
When we put out something to the universe and truly believe in the Law of Attraction. TRUST is a necessary component to it all. Let us now focus on what we learned on our journey of Plan A. TRUST is what we have learned to focus on. I believe that is our lesson.
Thank you again,
Donna
Donna Merrill would like you to read Success Is Built On Encouragement
Hi Donna
This Comment will give me a Big Head LOL
Wow to have some one like you on the team now with the mastermind group is just a blessing.
Regards
Theuns
Ah, a subject near to my heart! I believe it’s so important that we learn to redefine failure so that we think of it not as a dead end, but as a detour to an even better opportunity. Thanks for the inspiration Theuns!
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Thx Matquita
I am glad it is near to your heard and feel free to share it to your Team.
Regards
Theuns