Decide to Fail

If you're going to be successful, you've got to be willing to fail. And look stupid, not know what you're doing, feel silly and awkward and lost. A personal experience. I was a shy youngster and teenager. Very shy. I know, if you know me you're probably thinking, "Yeah right, DeBora." But I was. In my twenties I landed a job as an advocate for abused and battered women with the State's Attorneys Office. An advocate needs to speak, right? One day, in a meeting full of lawyers, I was commanded by my supervisor, also a lawyer, to "tell them about the new support group we'd started." Not that it would have made a difference, but I had no idea that this would be expected of me on this day. No amount of forewarning would have made me less terrified.

Okay, I opened my mouth to talk. What came out wasn't French or Spanish, and neither was it English. I was embarrassed beyond words, no pun intended. Lucky for me, it was Friday. I had a couple of days to lick my nasty wounds. I crawled home, into my husband arms, and sobbed. I also vowed to overcome my fear of public speaking. No matter what!

Fast forward, to another time when I attempted to deliver a speech, this time in front of a bunch of brilliant high schoolers. I was awful, awful, awful. For years, whenever I drove by this school, I would be a washed in shame.

I speak for a living now. I love it! The photo above was taken from a home in Paris, France where I did a book reading and signing. It went splendidly! Those expatriates wanted me to talk and talk and talk. I've succeeded at overcoming my fear of public speaking. It's my calling to write and SPEAK to inspire and empower others. So what I had a rough start. So what I sounded illiterate, looked stupid, and felt like a failure early on. So what I failed. Miserably! Failing isn't a crime. Nor is it a shame. What's a crime is not getting back on the horse, staying down. What's a shame is allowing the FEAR of failing to stop you from being, doing or having something that you know you're supposed to be, do and have!

DECIDE to fail! Now you're on the road to success. Inevitably, so long as you're willing to fail, you'll meet with success!

Smooches Darlings!

DeBora

Empowerment Speaker & Author of Love Addicted

www.DeBoraRicks.com