The Power of Failure

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6 In the Face of Failure, Search for Opportunities, Not Obstacles

Ed Land, the inventor of instant photography and founder of Polaroid, kept a plaque on his wall that read “A mistake is an event, the full benefit of which has not yet been turned to your advantage.” ¹², ¹³ This kind of thinking is at the heart of harnessing the Power of Failure.

Indeed, our potential for success in life depends a great deal on the way we think. Focusing primarily on opportunities rather than obstacles, particularly in the failures we experience, is especially important. We can program ourselves to be “opportunity thinkers,” but reprogramming our thinking is no easy task. Simply trying to think differently through force of will is generally not very productive. ...