Psychology of Media & Technology

Simon has an excellent point about needing to learn from failure rather than just fail, but it's also true that we don't know if we're going to succeed or fail from the outset of any effort.  Most entrepreneurs BELIEVE they will succeed, which is what gives them the gumption, for lack of a better non-sexist descriptor, to undertake their venture.  What we don't want, and I'm sure Simon would agree, is people trying to anticipate the ROF (Return on Failure) and not try for fear of not being able to adequately recoop their effort in intellectual capital.  This calculation introduces the possibility of failure.

The expression "Fake it 'til you make it" exists for a reason.  By taking an outward stance of confidence, we 'trick' our brain into upping our chances of success.  Mind-body connection and all that.  E.g., if we stand up straighter we feel more powerful.  "Faking it" helps keep our brain on track rather than letting those internal voices sabotage our belief in ourselves and potential for success.  If we are conscious of the need to learn from failure, it creates yet another reason, in the convoluted way our thinking works, to avoid trying challenges that have risk, as all good challenges do.  But to Simon's point, we should celebrate the learning not the failures.  At the same time, we need to remember to celebrate the effort, grit and resilience that keeps us getting back in the game no matter what we think we learned.  Just that action is, in fact, an ROF that has cumulative psychological benefits over a lifetime.