Comments on: Stumbling Toward Happiness: Or How to Fail Your Way to Success http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:15:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lisa http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2029 Lisa Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:56:11 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-2029 Rachel, I love it that you used a tough learning experience for you and turned it into a way to help others... Sharing your experience to save others from making the same mistakes. I think that is one of the best ways we can turn "failures" into gold in our own lives - when we can help others through what we have learned. Like you said about your ex- as well, sometimes a "failed" relationship can help us learn what doesn't work for us and create a clearer vision for the future. I admire your courage in putting yourself out there to share your story on PinkTruth (and now here!) and applaud you in wanting to make a difference for others. You're doing it. :-) Hope that we can all continue to work this alchemy of turning our perceived failures into successes in the future - learning from our mistakes. Isn't that a lot of what life is about? Life should be a grand adventure, in my book, and if you're not trying new things, you're probably not learning a whole lot... I admire you for giving it all a shot and then learning too when it was the right time to walk away. You rock :-) Hugs, Lisa Rachel, I love it that you used a tough learning experience for you and turned it into a way to help others… Sharing your experience to save others from making the same mistakes. I think that is one of the best ways we can turn “failures” into gold in our own lives – when we can help others through what we have learned.

Like you said about your ex- as well, sometimes a “failed” relationship can help us learn what doesn’t work for us and create a clearer vision for the future.

I admire your courage in putting yourself out there to share your story on PinkTruth (and now here!) and applaud you in wanting to make a difference for others. You’re doing it. :-)

Hope that we can all continue to work this alchemy of turning our perceived failures into successes in the future – learning from our mistakes. Isn’t that a lot of what life is about?

Life should be a grand adventure, in my book, and if you’re not trying new things, you’re probably not learning a whole lot… I admire you for giving it all a shot and then learning too when it was the right time to walk away.

You rock :-)

Hugs,
Lisa

]]> By: Rachel http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2027 Rachel Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:35:27 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-2027 Okay I have a slow day today, and I remembered there was more I wanted to say about "what I learned from failure." Better late than never? Years ago, when I was planning to take time off for the new baby my husband and I were adopting, I signed up to do Mary Kay, thinking it was a way to make a little extra money while staying home with my kids. I remember when I started, my favorite old professor said, "I'm sure you'll be just as successful in this as you are in everything else." What a nice vote of confidence! But in the end, I was far from successful with Mary Kay. Rather than make a little extra money for my family, I lost quite a bit. I wasn't used to failure, and I didn't take it well. That experience squashed my self esteem for a long time (more about that in the link I posted with.) What I learned from that experience has nothing to do with getting better at selling makeup, or even getting better at business. A year or two after I quit Mary Kay, I decided I would do something to make information more available to people. There were things I wish I'd known before I started, and this was information I wasn't able to find when I did some research beforehand. But first, I googled to see if anyone else did the same. What I found amazed me. I ran into this little community of people who had similar experiences with Mary Kay, and learned more about issues with MLM in general. I learned that sometimes, when you fail, it wasn't about not working hard, or not being good at it -- there are times when we truly are set up to fail, and that's not really our fault. I learned a lot about how to recognize that situation, just as I learned how to see the signs of a bad relationship from my ex. And I learned how powerful and healing it can be to advocate for others. 5 years later, I still participate in MLM awareness via www.pinktruth.com, and it continues to be rewarding. Okay I have a slow day today, and I remembered there was more I wanted to say about “what I learned from failure.” Better late than never?

Years ago, when I was planning to take time off for the new baby my husband and I were adopting, I signed up to do Mary Kay, thinking it was a way to make a little extra money while staying home with my kids. I remember when I started, my favorite old professor said, “I’m sure you’ll be just as successful in this as you are in everything else.” What a nice vote of confidence!

But in the end, I was far from successful with Mary Kay. Rather than make a little extra money for my family, I lost quite a bit. I wasn’t used to failure, and I didn’t take it well. That experience squashed my self esteem for a long time (more about that in the link I posted with.)

What I learned from that experience has nothing to do with getting better at selling makeup, or even getting better at business. A year or two after I quit Mary Kay, I decided I would do something to make information more available to people. There were things I wish I’d known before I started, and this was information I wasn’t able to find when I did some research beforehand. But first, I googled to see if anyone else did the same. What I found amazed me.

I ran into this little community of people who had similar experiences with Mary Kay, and learned more about issues with MLM in general. I learned that sometimes, when you fail, it wasn’t about not working hard, or not being good at it — there are times when we truly are set up to fail, and that’s not really our fault. I learned a lot about how to recognize that situation, just as I learned how to see the signs of a bad relationship from my ex. And I learned how powerful and healing it can be to advocate for others. 5 years later, I still participate in MLM awareness via http://www.pinktruth.com, and it continues to be rewarding.

]]> By: Kim, the traveler http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1970 Kim, the traveler Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:31:22 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-1970 Great post. It reminds us that we can't quit just because we fail the first time. You gotta keep pushing! Great post. It reminds us that we can’t quit just because we fail the first time. You gotta keep pushing!

]]> By: Heather, the e-commerce builder http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1957 Heather, the e-commerce builder Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:06:11 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-1957 I'm in on the majority of your list - Thanks for sharing! Dilbert is one of my heroes - a tech geek and hilarious. Always a good combination. I’m in on the majority of your list – Thanks for sharing! Dilbert is one of my heroes – a tech geek and hilarious. Always a good combination.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1891 Lisa Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:49:38 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-1891 Julita the indomitability of the human spirit has always amazed me - people survive terrible tragedies, make painful mistakes in their own lives, lose people they love... and keep living. I think that's why we need each other, as Erika said, to make it through. I think knowing that other people love you and having dreams are both key. We all need something to look forward to! And remembering to enjoy the little happy moments in our day-to-day lives, like you wrote about here as well. Life is quite beautiful really. Does not mean it is not difficult sometimes. Lean on me and others sweetheart - am here for you! And Darcy - THANK YOU beautiful. I do like either word - experiments or adventures - since I think life is both! I'm happy that I'm still around to share too and happy to be back in touch with wonderful you! :-) oh p.s. to Julita - check out the other inspiring posts from the other 7 women on the other days. :-) And someday you will have my books to read too! Working on it! ;) Julita the indomitability of the human spirit has always amazed me – people survive terrible tragedies, make painful mistakes in their own lives, lose people they love… and keep living. I think that’s why we need each other, as Erika said, to make it through.

I think knowing that other people love you and having dreams are both key. We all need something to look forward to! And remembering to enjoy the little happy moments in our day-to-day lives, like you wrote about here as well. Life is quite beautiful really. Does not mean it is not difficult sometimes. Lean on me and others sweetheart – am here for you!

And Darcy – THANK YOU beautiful. I do like either word – experiments or adventures – since I think life is both! I’m happy that I’m still around to share too and happy to be back in touch with wonderful you! :-)

oh p.s. to Julita – check out the other inspiring posts from the other 7 women on the other days. :-) And someday you will have my books to read too! Working on it! ;)

]]> By: Darcy http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1890 Darcy Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:17:33 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-1890 Lisa, you are very brave to share all your so-called failures with the world so publicly. Like you say in your comments, there has to be a better word, though. Experiments? Adventures? Maybe failure is in the eye of the beholder, because I read your list and think not failures, just things that didn't work out. Anyhow, I'm really glad you're still here to share them with us. Lisa, you are very brave to share all your so-called failures with the world so publicly. Like you say in your comments, there has to be a better word, though. Experiments? Adventures? Maybe failure is in the eye of the beholder, because I read your list and think not failures, just things that didn’t work out. Anyhow, I’m really glad you’re still here to share them with us.

]]> By: Julita http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1888 Julita Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:01:48 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-1888 Lisa, so great to have your posts to read. sometimes I wonder where can we get energy to keep on going? failure after failure how to keep on going? helps to have some dreams and to have a goal in life. also helps to have great friends like you. I am home sick. just called my boss to tell him I wasn't coming in to work. hate being sick, and hate calling about it even more. wish your posts were daily and not weekly, but at least I can read your comments, :) Lisa, so great to have your posts to read. sometimes I wonder where can we get energy to keep on going?

failure after failure how to keep on going?

helps to have some dreams and to have a goal in life. also helps to have great friends like you.

I am home sick. just called my boss to tell him I wasn’t coming in to work. hate being sick, and hate calling about it even more.

wish your posts were daily and not weekly, but at least I can read your comments, :)

]]> By: Lisa http://www.8womendream.com/stumbling-toward-happiness-or-how-to-fail-your-way-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1886 Lisa Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:45:31 +0000 http://www.8womendream.com/?p=6244#comment-1886 p.s. to Bridget - such an interesting perspective. Makes me wish it was more accepted to reveal our "failures" and mistakes - everyone has some!!! Because I do think they say a lot about us, what we've yearned for, what we've attempted. Some incredible leaders - take Abraham Lincoln - failed and failed and failed and failed before succeeding. And look at what he accomplished. Never stopped trying, never stopped dreaming. p.s. to Bridget – such an interesting perspective. Makes me wish it was more accepted to reveal our “failures” and mistakes – everyone has some!!! Because I do think they say a lot about us, what we’ve yearned for, what we’ve attempted. Some incredible leaders – take Abraham Lincoln – failed and failed and failed and failed before succeeding. And look at what he accomplished. Never stopped trying, never stopped dreaming.

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