No one enjoys failure; however, there is one great thing that comes out of failure, and that is the ability to tell great stories. No one wants to hear about how you woke up one day, tried something new, were a great success and life was wonderful from that moment on. No one can relate to that story, but people can relate to the story of a failure. People will want not just the story of a failure, but what you learned from your failure and how you used that failure to move forward. Failure not only gives you great stories, but it acts as a springboard to success.

Failure is part of the larger story of success. I have failed many times, since not everything I have tried has worked. However, I have great stories because of the failures, what I learned from them and how I used failure to create success. The most valuable lesson I have learned is that I can use failure to give myself a jumpstart to my next success.

Stories are important, not just so that you can tell great stories to which people can relate but also so that you can hear your own story. You build on failure by realizing that, if you can overcome that failure, you can do anything. Failure gives you strength and courage. There were times when I felt like I wanted to give up. Then I would remember a failure that I had turned into success. That memory and the wisdom I gained from that experience gave me the confidence to move forward. You learn that if you can survive failure, and even turn your failure into an aspect of your success, there really isn't anything you can't do.

Embrace your failures and learn to respect and appreciate them. Your failures, as much and maybe even more than your successes, have brought you to where you are today. You have proved to yourself and to the world that you can overcome adversity and survive the most difficult of times. You are not just a survivor; you are a thriver. You have a great story to tell, one that has changed your life and one that may have the impact of changing the lives of those who hear it.