Why Success Is 99% Failure
Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor. He had over 1,093 patents to his name, but failed repeatedly in his attempts to invent the light bulb.
He is reputed to have said after his multiple failures “We now know a thousand ways not to build a light bulb”. Eventually, Edison succeeded and the rest is history. Edison got to the one percent that Sōichirō Honda, founder of the Honda Motor Co said everyone should strive for. He said “Success is 99% failure.”
Winston Churchill put it another way “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Edison never gave up. He had the courage to carry on. In doing so he changed history. He invented the Phonograph (Gramophone), lightbulb, motion picture camera and Fluoroscopy.
Have you ever failed at something? I have. Many times.
But when I know I’ve hit that one percent, gone past the 99% there is no sweeter feeling.
Even though I haven’t invented the light bulb, or the original iPod like Thomas Edison. I believe what I do, and all the influence I bring to bear will play some part in changing the course of human history. One person at a time. That somewhere, someone’s life will change because they make a life changing decision.
That is why I do what I do. I realise that failure is never fatal.
I’m eager to reach that one percent.
How about you?
We’re seeing a refreashing trend and resurgence of this idea. We recently read a great blog by Mike Foster (People of the Second Chance) about snuggling up to failure. We even had our own experience just last week and were able to turn the 99% into the 1% just by looking at the experience from a different perspective.
Steve,
You are dead right!
I have failed and am still failing, but trying to
reach my goal. At times all hope is totally knocked-off.
Want to learn more.
Hey Steve, I read a book recently that put it this way… if you learn from your failures there are no failures – you either succeed or you learn something new. In that way, you’re guaranteed a win.