It is exciting to watch babies grow to the point where they start learning how to walk. We observe their efforts, curiosity, and eagerness. The baby attempts to stand up, typically big-eyed and drooling, holding on to objects, bumping into things, and falling on their bum. There is a tenacity with a baby that is interesting to watch. They don’t give up. They press in. They push their way and eventually they are walking. No one ever mentions to the baby, “hey, you have fallen 652 times, so you won’t ever walk.” Somehow, within their inner being, they keep trying.

Another happy moment is when a child is learning to ride a bike. The child, who is fully decked in a helmet and knee pads, wobbles on a bike until they are able to ride it with full balance, control, and no training wheels. Never is failure discussed in most cases or even considered though there are falls and half-successful attempts. It’s apart of the process.

Somewhere in our growth process as we add age, education, and other accomplishments, we develop a layer of pride where the sense of failing or not getting attempts right becomes more tangible and the pain of not accomplishing the end goal more excruciating. We grow ashamed to admit that it has happened and “failing” is equated to some end of who we are as a person or our worth. What I have come to understand is that failure is necessary.

Just like the baby that presses beyond the countless falls to learn to walk or the child that has to keep pressing to ride a bike, life presents circumstances where we fail. I have a new perspective on failure. Failure never defines you but refines you.

I have failed. I know what it looks like. I know what it feels like but I wouldn’t have the wisdom, character, strength, or be able to move in another dimension without failure. I am able to say with full confidence that failure is necessary for shaping and forming of any brilliant leader. Embrace your story which includes falling down. It includes failure. Do you want to shine? Let failure buff and refine.