Ep 6 | From Loser to Leader: Why Your Biggest Failures May Be Your Greatest Blessings in Disguise

I'm going to get real about a topic that's not always easy to talk about: failure.

I know, I know, it's not the most glamorous subject. But trust me, it's one that we all need to confront if we want to reach our full potential and achieve our wildest dreams.

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The Hidden Gift of Failure

I've had my fair share of epic failures, from getting my car repossessed at 21 to closing my beloved cycling studio during the pandemic. And let me tell you, in the moment, those losses felt devastating. I felt like a total loser, like I had let everyone down and would never amount to anything.

But with the benefit of hindsight, I can see that those failures were actually some of my greatest blessings. They taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and what it really takes to succeed in business and in life.

You see, failure is not a dead end. It's a detour, a redirection, a chance to learn and grow and come back stronger than ever. Every time we fail, we have an opportunity to:

• Build resilience and mental toughness

• Gain clarity on what we really want and what truly matters

• Develop innovative solutions and creative workarounds

• Cultivate a growth mindset and an unshakeable belief in ourselves

Reframing Failure: From Loser to Leader

The key to turning failures into fuel is all in how we frame them. If we buy into the narrative that failure makes us losers, we'll stay stuck in a cycle of shame and self-doubt. But if we can reframe failure as a necessary part of the journey, as a rite of passage on the road to success, everything changes.

When my cycling studio went under, I had a choice. I could see myself as a failed entrepreneur and give up on my dreams, or I could view that failure as a master class in business and use those hard-won lessons to build something even better. I chose the latter, and bex+Co. was born.

Here are some powerful ways to reframe failure:

• Failure as Feedback: Instead of seeing failure as a final verdict, view it as valuable feedback. What worked, what didn't, and what can you do differently next time?

• Failure as a Rite of Passage: Remind yourself that every successful person has a long string of failures behind them. Failure isn't a sign that you're not cut out for success; it's a rite of passage on the journey towards your dreams.

• Failure as a Redirection: Sometimes, failure is simply a sign that we're on the wrong path. Instead of stubbornly pressing on, failure can be an invitation to reassess our direction and realign with our true north.

Your Bounce-Back Action Plan

Alright, so we know that failure is chock-full of hidden gifts and opportunities. But how do we actually alchemize those losses into wins? Here's your step-by-step bounce-back plan:

1. Acknowledge the pain: Don't sugarcoat it, failure stings. Give yourself space to feel the disappointment and hurt. Feel the grief, the anger, the fear - feel it fully, and then release it. Unprocessed emotions will only keep you stuck.

2. Conduct a compassionate post-mortem: Once the sting has faded, review what happened with curiosity and self-compassion. What lessons did you learn? What will you do differently next time?

3. Reach out for support: Failure can be isolating, but you don't have to go it alone. Lean on friends, family, mentors, or a coach for guidance and encouragement.

4. Take inspired action: Armed with new insights and a resilient mindset, it's time to get back in the game. What's the next small step you can take towards your goals?

Remember, failure is never the final chapter unless you let it be. Some of your biggest losses may just be the setup for your greatest wins - if you're willing to learn the lessons and keep moving forward.

I know it's not always easy to see the silver lining when you're in the thick of a failure. But trust me, it's there. Every loss, every setback, every disappointment carries within it the seeds of growth and transformation. Your job is to nurture those seeds and watch them blossom.

As someone who's failed more times than I can count, I can tell you this with absolute certainty: your failures do not define you. They are not a life sentence. They are simply part of your unique journey, your hero's journey, to becoming the leader you were always meant to be.

So embrace the losses, learn the lessons, and keep moving forward. Your greatest successes are waiting for you on the other side of failure. You've got this.