Increasing Your Rate of Failure
The Art of Failing Upwards
A principle that I have been trying to verbalize for a while is the need for failure. Yes, we have "trust the process" and that there are "lessons in failure" and so on, but neither of those really depict what I've been trying to say. I can't quite remember where I heard it, it may have been Simon Sinek's "A Bit of Optimism" podcast.
He had a guest on that described two clients, a father and a son who ran separate business with vastly different approaches. The father was more conservative with his risks and decision making. He often weighed decisions, waiting for long periods of time. The son on the other hand took the calculated risks and pushed forward quickly with the idea that if they failed, they would learn from the mistakes they made. Out of the two, the son's business grew faster. It's rate of failure was far higher, which allowed the company to evolve at a faster rate than the father's.
How Failing Can Help:
Adaptation and Problem Solving - The ability to adapt to different situations and problem solve on the fly is key.
Growth Mindset - When you understand that failure is key, you’ll view it as a necessary ingredient.
Understanding Limitations - Failure highlights weaknesses and areas of improvement. Recognizing your limitations is the first step towards addressing them.
Humility and Open Mindedness - I’m a Black Belt, I understand my skill set and abilities. It is crazy when you roll with someone who makes you feel like a complete noob. Healthy reminder that there’s levels to all this.
Skill Refinement - For roughly four months I dedicated myself to Mounted Armbars. You know what I did for the majority of that time? Failed. A lot. Each time I failed, I reviewed and experimented on different approaches.
Thank you for reading.
David Figueroa-Martinez
Founder, DFM Coaching
Coach | Writer | Grappler
DFM Coaching is dedicated to helping you overcome mental hurdles and achieve your full potential in BJJ. Whether through in-person instruction, seminars, private lessons, remote coaching, or video analysis, I provide personalized support tailored to your needs. Keep pushing forward, and let’s grow together!