This question was on the side of a building and posed to me the other day. Upon giving it thought, I discovered it is very difficult to answer. Whilst at first glance it appears to be quite philosophical, the more I thought about it, the more I realised something.

Everything I set out to do, I do so in the belief that I will not fail.

I’m not sure if it is a product of my sunny disposition or a permanently positive outlook. Or if it is in fact as a result of avoiding undertaking anything that I feel may not succeed?

Delving deeper and looking at the question from other angles, I realised that I in fact do not always succeed. I do undertake adventures that fail.

I have been on more first dates than I care to recount. I don’t think you ever go on a date hoping it will not work out. So you could argue that not getting a second date is a fail. You could also argue that if you learn something from that experience then you are wiser for the journey. For me, I don’t see these as a failure. I see it as a knowledge gain.

When you go for a new job, you have the expectation that you will get the job. You portray yourself as confidently conservative. You are leaving yourself open to judgment and critique in these meetings. And you are vulnerable. If you get the job you have succeeded. But if you miss out, you feel like you have failed. Again, I look to these experiences with the hope that I can learn something. A little nugget that I can carry with me to the next interview. Not a fail, but rather a small gain in experience.

Walking tall in the belief you will not fail to me feels like a great way to live your life. Whilst not being arrogant, the swagger of confidence will be infectious and those you encounter will prosper from your energy.

So to me, if you take something from anything you do, whether the outcome is good or bad, you have succeeded. Knowledge is best gained through experience.

Looking to the future, something I want to attempt in the knowledge it will not fail is to start my own advertising agency. When and where I do this I am not sure. But it will be pretty cool. The people who work there will all be borderline edgy, with big ideas and aspirations. And trendy outfits. 

If you were to tell me I couldn’t fail, I would do it much sooner, rather than later.