Your Failure Can Lead to Your Success

Around ten years ago, while attending the Congressional Black Caucus, I convinced a few friends to drive to Virginia to visit a place called the Salamander Resort & Spa. It fascinated me because it was the brainchild of Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. As a successful African American businesswoman who made a conscious effort to have a unique and prosperous third act of her life, she set out to do things she had only dreamed of previously. Our third act usually falls around when we are about to retire, somewhere between the ages of 60 and 70. However, today, many of us are pausing retirement due to several reasons, such as good health, newfound interest, or financial need. By the time we reach our third act, we tend to have more time and wisdom to help us accomplish things that were mere thoughts. If we are fortunate enough to achieve our third act, by the time we reach it, we can pursue the things that touch our hearts and that we are passionate about, and the sky can be the limit. It is also a time when many of us are reinventing who we want to be when we grow up. We are using our past failures as stepping stones to success, which is still before us.

Ten years ago, when my friends and I visited the Salamander Resort, we were pleasantly surprised when we noticed Ms. Sheila Johnson in the lobby. She was a quiet lady and very gracious. I walked up to her and introduced myself, and shared with her that I had been following her work regarding her resort. It interested me as an African American businesswoman, but also because I had a history in the hospitality industry. Recently I came across an article about Ms. Johnson and one of the questions they asked her was, what advice would you give people who are about to enter their third act? What caught my attention was when she said not to be afraid to take risks and that it is okay if you fail. Failing and being a failure are two different things. She shared that no matter your age, it is okay if you do not get something right. She admitted that even in this season of her life, she still fails when it comes to certain things. Her answer to herself is to try again, even if she must go in a different direction. We must realize that sometimes we may not always have the answers, but we can get closer to our goal when we learn what something is not. Sometimes, we must make mistakes to figure things out. Making mistakes can help us find out who we are not. We must ask ourselves whether we just go through things or do we grow through them. If we do not grow, then we will not learn the lesson.

What is failure anyway? The dictionary defines it as the lack of success, but to me, it is only failure if you do not learn the lesson and you stop trying. We have many examples of great success stories where people failed many times before they succeeded in something they were working on. When I was in my twenties, I was part of a women’s bible study, and one day, as we were talking about the subject matter, the discussion turned to sharing with each other what we thought each other’s gifts and talents were. When it came to me, everyone said the same thing. They said I have the gift of encouragement and hospitality, and sure enough, almost everything I put my hands to do has something to do with one of those two themes. Looking back over the six decades of my life, I have tried several things that interest me, but not all turned into successful businesses. I have learned that there is a central theme in everything I do. I love helping people discover their best selves and encouraging them on their journey. I also enjoy helping people understand the power of forgiveness and that healing starts with ourselves. As you look back over your life, do not let any of your failures hold you back from the success that can still be yours. #success #sheilajohnson #salamanderresortandspa #coachwendy #embracingagraciouslifestyle #seasonofgreatness

Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on.

Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is a life strategist, coach, consultant, author, and speaker.