Discouraged from failure? Try the BREATHE process.
Channel: George Kao
Date: 2017-10-23

Read the article here:
https://medium.com/@georgekao/when-youre-discouraged-from-failure-try-the-breathe-process-2dfd0a4c6f9

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Recently I had a launch that had fewer sales than I expected. 
Barely any, in fact.

My first reaction, as with most humans, was to get discouraged, mildly depressed, and tempted to quit selling that product/program.

You might be surprised that a business/marketing “expert” like me would have business failures anymore. By this point, shouldn’t I be experienced enough to have only success? Or at least launches that somewhat meet expectations?

In truth, the very experienced business/marketing experts have usually experienced more “failures” than anyone else in business. 

What makes them so experienced is the willingness to keep trying different things, keep failing if need be, and keep learning from their “failures” and trying again, hopefully a bit more skillful each time.

The most respected marketing teacher alive today, Seth Godin, says this:

“The rule is simple: The person who fails the most will win. If I fail more than you do, I will win. Because in order to keep failing, you’ve got to be good enough to keep playing.
So, if you fail cataclysmically and never play again, you only fail once. But if you are always out there putting your work into the world, creating and starting things, you will learn endless things.
You will learn to see more accurately, you will learn the difference between a good idea and a bad idea and, most of all, you will keep producing.”

While I was in my state of discouragement (gratefully, it lasted only a few days) I kept asking myself: What would I say to a client who was experiencing this? What therefore should I also do to recover?

This is the word that came to me:
BREATHE

I got curious about what that meant, except well, to breathe. During those few days, the following acronym started to form.

Try the BREATHE process the next time you feel discouraged from a “failure”…

B = Breathe
Take a few gentle, deep breaths.
Get some oxygen into the brain and feel a bit better right away.
This is so simple, but can change the direction of your day.

R = Rest
When feeling discouraged, take a pause, rather than push.
Rest awhile. Maybe take a nap?
Then, reboot your energy. I’ve written about my own Energy Reboot Process.

E = Extract the good
Ask yourself: “What did I do well?”
No failure is ever 100%. Even in a “failed experience” there was something in that situation that you did well. Look for it, and don’t take it for granted.
What other good you can extract from this failure experience? What could you be grateful for?
For example, when I was feeling discouraged, I thought about how many people in my audience also feel this discouragement in trying to build their business… and if I remember this, it will help me be more effective in helping them. Otherwise if I only have successes, I will not be able to relate to my clients and students. I’m grateful to be reminded of this lesson.
In your case, what good can you extract from the experience?

A = Ask for guidance
If you believe that divine guidance is available to you, then ask in the way you know best. Pray, journal, meditate, etc.
Also consider asking for the guidance of trusted advisors in your life, which could be your friends, family, colleagues, coaches, groups, etc.
Simply message someone you trust and say “I’m feeling discouraged… can I seek some guidance from you?” It could be over messaging, or a quick phone call, whatever works for them.
In case the person isn’t available, send the message to more than one trusted advisor.

Read the rest of the article here:
https://medium.com/@georgekao/when-youre-discouraged-from-failure-try-the-breathe-process-2dfd0a4c6f9