Hurry up and Fail!

Did I say hurry up and fail? Yep. Okay, it’s about time for Wealthy Jedi Mind Trick #2. It’s long overdue, so here we go.

Wealthy Jedi Mind Trick #2: Fail Fast to Succeed Faster

It’s all too easy to get stuck trying to “get it right” before we actually take action on something. We all want to make things the best they can possibly be, but sometimes this can stop you from getting anything accomplished. There’s a balance between making things the best you can, and just getting it out there and taking action. You can get stuck in perfecting something because you are afraid of getting it wrong. But when you really think about it, getting it right usually involves getting it wrong a bunch of times anyways.

Some people might disagree with me and say plan, plan plan plan. Planning is important. But it’s useless without doing something with it. I bet you I can figure out what keywords rank better, just by getting some quick articles out there, rather than doing 10 days of highly analytical keyword research.

I say “Hurry Up And Fail” because the faster you figure out what doesn’t work, the faster you know what does work. Sometimes there are definite short-cuts, and by that I mean working smarter. But most of the time successful people achieve success simply because they are willing to do what the majority of people are not.

They’re willing to take action, to get numbers, to see what works. It’s like when I first started my entrepreneurial career…selling cookies when I was 8. So the first neighbor didn’t want to buy any of my cookies. “Hmm, maybe my cookies stink,” I thought, “Maybe I should go home. Maybe people don’t want my cookies.” Well, I finally said to myself, “who cares if Crazy Cat Lady doesn’t want my cookies, I’ll go knock on the next door. And the next, and the next, and the next. And by the end of the day, all the cookies were gone, and I had enough to go buy some sparkly craft supplies.

In so many aspects of life, success is simply a numbers game:
The first time you met someone, was it the love of your life? Probably not.
The first time I played the piano, was it a Liszt Concerto? Umm, more like Chopsticks version 0.01
When kids first learn to ride a bike, do they look like Lance Armstrong? Of course not.

But you get to a point where each of these activities turn into a success, because you’re not afraid to fail, and “run the numbers,” and figure out what works.

For example, if I just stared at sheet music all day, and then expected to sit down and play something amazing without ever practicing, well good luck to me.

On the outside people say, “Oooo, you’re so lucky, I wish I could play like that. That must be so nice for you.”

Luck has little to do with it. Here’s what it does have to do with:

Start with the first measure, and play it right 50 times before I move onto the second one. And then after I get the first and second measure right, I’m going to play them together 50 times, and move onto the 3rd. There’s about 20 measures on a page, 60 pages in total, so 1200 measures in total, 50 times each is playing measures 60,000 times.

Anywhere of 4-6 hours of practicing a day, for the last 24 years. But shhhhh, that’s not glamourous. No one wants to see you sweat. Just make it pretty.

And you know what? They shouldn’t have to. People are here for results. I don’t play piano because it’s so awesome to play scales for people! Wohoo! Heh, no one cares. I want to play something amazing that makes myself and others feel things that can’t be expressed in words. Emotions that we desperately hide from public view because we don’t know what to do with them, our greatest joy and our darkest sadness. That’s the result I’m after.

It’s the same in business. No one wants to see you sweat. And they shouldn’t have to. Trust me, no one’s going to give you a yellow star sticker for working hard. “Work” doesn’t get attention. Results do.

It’s the same with the internet. Everyone wants the results. “Oooo cool! I just sign up here, click here, ding dong DONE, I’m a zillionaire!”

But there’s no “magic pixie dust” to being successful. It’s about putting your gloves on, getting dirty, knowing your might screw up along the way, and getting over it. Fast.

It’s about looking at your business like a science experiment:

Step 1: “So if I send this type of email at this time, here’s what happens: nothing.” – Okay, check. That doesn’t work.
Step 2: “I’ll change this, tweak that, and let’s give another go.” – Okay, check. That does works.

Most people fear the result of Step 1, so they never do it. They are not realizing what is waiting for them after Step 2.

Here’s the best part: Time flies, we all know that. The faster you get started, the faster you will succeed. And after you succeed, it’s amazing to look back and think, “You know what? I’m so glad I took a risk, and did whatever it took to make it work. I would do that 10 times over again.”

Here’s an example I used the other day when coaching a client:

There’s you, and four other entrepreneurs at a starting line. You’re facing an obstacle course. A really hard one that makes “Survivor” look like Girl Scout Camp. But at the finish line is…BUSINESS SUCCESS!

Two of the other contenders say, “I’m not going, what if I break my leg? I don’t have health insurance.”

One of the other contenders says, “Oh they’re filming this?! I’m going to look so dumb, I’ll watch you go, see how you do it, and then I”ll try.”

The fourth says, “Oh, well look at that guy. He’s a runner. It must be easy for him. That’s not fair! This is a conspiracy, I’m not playing! Waa!”

You say, “Screw it. I don’t care if I get all cut up, horribly bruised, and look like a moron, I’m going!”

And when you get to the other side: VICTORY. Do you care about your bruises? What bruises? You can’t even feel them. Your clothes are ruined. Psh, who cares. It’s a t-shirt, you’ll get another.

All of a sudden, everything that appeared to be “such a big deal,” that held everyone else back, is almost non-existent for you in the face of victory.

So hurry up, fail, get over it, rinse and repeat.

I want to see you succeed.

Let’s Make It Happen-

Natalie W. Stahl

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