Some people will go to any lengths to avoid failure.  By doing so they miss out on a lot of opportunities and miss the chance to grow personally, professionally and spiritually.

Please understand from the onset, I am not advocating failure for failure’s sake. I am, however, suggesting that without failure it is very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish great things. That may sound like a strange paradox, but most of life is a paradox, so why shouldn’t the concepts of failure and success be included?

After over 35 years in business – many of them as a speaker and trainer, I have made a discovery. Show me someone who has never failed at anything, and I will show you someone who always plays it safe, never stretches and is willing to accept the status quo, whatever that means to them.

Show me someone who has succeeded at anything, and I will show you someone who goes for the gold, shoots for the stars and is willing to pick themselves up off the floor again and again until they achieve their dreams. Dreams can change, goals can change, circumstances can change. Conditions can change. But the inner drive to overcome, accomplish, win, contribute or just feel the glow of personal satisfaction can never be dampened in those who have come to this life believing that they are here to win at something, or everything. They understand that to overcome, they will go around it, dig under it or fly over it  – but obstacles are there to test their resolve and commitment – not to stop them.  These people understand that they might not make it over the first time, or the second, or even the 10^th, but as long as they have the health required (and there are many people who have even overcome these personal challenges), they will win the day.

These people use their failures as assignments in the classroom of life. They see these setbacks as required to learn how to do it better, faster, slower, sooner, later…whatever.

How about you? Have you ever failed? If so, what was your reaction or response to it?  Are you failing at something now?  How are you feeling?  What are you doing about it?  What are you learning?  How are you responding?

Or, are you the type who plays it safe? Never goes after a new relationship for fear it might fail? Never goes after a new career for fear of failure?  Never changes anything because of a lack of understanding of the value of failure while traveling life’s path?

You have less to lose by trying than not trying.  And you have a great deal to gain if you will just go for it.

On his way to creating the light bulb, Edison discovered 1,800 ways not to build one.  One of Madame Curie's failures was radium.  Columbus was looking for India.  Errors and failures are one of life's primary learning vehicles.  That's because success reinforces the way you do things.  When you fail, however, you learn what's not working, and you get the opportunity to try new approaches.  

So flex your risk muscle.  Keep it in shape by trying new things.  Because if you don't, it atrophies and you are no longer able to take a chance, or learn and grow.  

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Brian Tracy and Yvonne Brown are featured in this month's "The company we keep" section of the newsletter.

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BEGINNING IN 2004 - Join us for a discussion of Choice, Decision and Destiny on PEPTalk.  

What's holding you back anyway?  Come on, turn off the television, turn off the radio, pull up a chair and let's talk. (We have pushed this forward to 2004 so that the software can be installed and the site set up for you.  We are seeking volunteers to help moderate the discussion group.  Send an email to to us at info@jadcommunications.com if you are willing and able to help.)  

Help us to keep the story going - Join our news group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SelfCreators  It's FREE!

TeleSeminars in 2004 

Third Saturday of every month 

7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. CST

The need to push the limits of excellence has taken on a truly personal dimension in that it reflects your commitment  to success.  

These TeleSeminars will reveal the secrets that makes your goals and resolutions for 2004 a reality!

• January:     How to use the Law of attraction to get what you want

• February:   How to write your book fast!

• March:        How to self-publish your book using ePOD to get it to the marketplace quickly

• April:           How to start a money making business online and make money while you sleep

• May:           Discussions on what you aspire to do, be or have and how to get it NOW!

• June:          How to write a book proposal

• July:            How to run a SoHo (tricks of the trade)

• August:       How to look like a BIG company on a shoe string budget

• September: How to have a website for $100.00 or less

• October:      How to write and publish a book in 3 months or less.

• November:  How to promote and market your book

• December:  How to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor 

• Attendees will receive a bonus of 30 minutes of FREE DPV coaching©

To learn more send email to: Yvonne@JADcommunications.com 

Recommended discount program this month:

Take advantage of the opportunity to get 50% off - buy one get one free.

Remember to download your FREE ebook "He Does Believe It!" written by Yvonne F. Brown and featuring Vic Johnson a true believer.

Where's Yvonne? - For more information on the Jamaican American Dreamer™,  send an email to jad@jadcommunications.com 

AUTHOR INFORMATION. Yvonne Frances Brown, The Jamaican American Dreamer™, is an internationally recognized speaker, author and personal motivation, inspiration, and human potential empowerment coach . Yvonne helps people to attain personal greatness by taking control of their own destiny and choosing a future they design. Primary services include coaching, public speaking, keynotes, workshops,  and seminars for corporations and associations

JAD Communications International publishes and distributes encouragement aimed specifically at aspiring people of all ages. Coaching and enlightened discussion is the cornerstone of the endeavor, whereby JAD enables the ever-changing and enlightened mind of people of diversity, without regard to age, race, or background. To learn more about JAD Communications International and how it can help to coach and motivate your employees, your association, or your company, send an email to The Jamaican American Dreamer

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