Planning for Failure: What if This Doesn’t Work?
Right now I am writing a book, in fact, it is already written. I am combing through it, adding the science behind it, and refining the manuscript with more information that comes to me. Soon it will go to the editors. One day, my friend asked, “What if this doesn’t work? Are you prepared for that?”
I was dumbfounded and reactionary. I thought, “What the . . . why would I even think about this?” I couldn’t figure out why I would prepare myself to fail while in the process of doing such a forward thinking thing. If this doesn’t “work,” then, I have written a book and now understand the process of writing and publishing. The very act of writing gets this information out of my head and into the world, where it is otherwise pent up. If the book doesn’t sell well, I am still not in the same situation I was in before writing it. Now, I have experience and knowledge that I did not have prior to the endeavor. I understand that there is an investment in writing a book and that may, or may not, pay off, but that is just money and can be made up doing the very thing I was doing before. No problem. Meanwhile, I have had a blast putting it all together. Doing what I love to do, writing.
I am not sure I believe in planning for failure. I understand preparing yourself for an outcome that you have no control over. For instance, if a person is trying to get pregnant and cannot, they may need to manage their expectations differently. Sometimes there is not much they can do about that. Fertility is a growing concern in our world today. Families might have to prepare for the reality that they cannot get pregnant. I can understand, when trying to get preggers, you may need to consider that it might not work. It is beyond your control.
Writing a book or starting a business is different. If it’s not working, you can pivot and try something different until you find the right combination of elements to make it successful. If you stick with anything long enough you will figure it out and move it in the direction of “working.” At some point, when it is no longer satisfying, you may chose to abandon the project. Does this mean you have not succeeded? You can’t even land in the same spot you were in before the book or business. Now, you have loads of experience and knowledge that you did not have before.
Learning, growing, changing, opening yourself up to something different will result in something different. You will not be where you started in the end. Changing it up, changes it up. If nothing else, your thinking and awareness will be different.
We don’t want to plan for failure if we are working to making something great happen. It’s like saying, “Sorry, Universe, I am not sure you will come through for me. So, I am going to hold on to failure as one of the options, just so that I won’t be disappointed if doesn’t work.” This makes me crazy. The law of attraction and power of intention suggests that if we make a plan for the future and move toward it with clarity and passion, dedication and gusto, we will get there, the universe meeting us half way.
If we get stuck or find that we are not achieving the goals and KPIs (key performance indicators) we have established, we may have some limiting beliefs or behaviors that are getting in the way. We may need extra help to move us past said limitations. But getting help to move past the limiting beliefs and emotional blocks is readily available (call me, I have a great technique for that.) Don’t focus on “this might not work” or the Universe will likely say, “Yes, and here is more of that.” Instead, keep your focus on the dream or outcome and be grateful for having it already. I am intending to write a book that will have a positive impact on peoples’ lives and I am counting on the Universe to say, “Yes and here is how I can help.”
What is your opinion about this? Is there a reason someone would plan for failure?