Describe what happened and what you learned when you've failed?

2016-07-16T17:32:22-04:00

RP Members don't be afraid to share your story for the ages - let's learn from other's failures!

“If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived” is how the saying goes. Failure is probably one of the aspects in life most people are afraid of. But the truth is: everyone has failed and everyone will fail again. We sometimes forget that all successful people have failed, but they did not stop after their failures. They stood up and tried again, time after time.

Failure is life’s greatest teacher

Failure will make you reach your potential

Failure brings character and humbles you

Failure determines the kind of person you are

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 16 at 2016 5:37 PM

2016-07-16T17:37:53-04:00

Thanks COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Failure is a great teacher for those who survive.
I tried to ensure that the soldiers I led understood that failing while training that costs no lives or significant dollars in damage ins not only acceptable; but, it much better than failing in an operation.
As a Christian I learned long ago that it the weaknesses that I am conscious of that the Lord gets glory when others see HIM through my own weaknesses and they learn that God truly does work through our weaknesses and gives us the endurance to lean on HIM while we are led by HIM.

Response by SGT Amy Tribou made Jul 16 at 2016 5:40 PM

2016-07-16T17:40:16-04:00

I studied harder, and told myself the exact opposite, lol, failure is not an option. Kept telling myself this is not forever, this will end, and just seriously kept pushing myself til I did pass.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2016 5:42 PM

2016-07-16T17:42:44-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, Absolutely no offense to you, but this post is too personal for me to contribute anything.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jul 16 at 2016 5:44 PM

2016-07-16T17:44:28-04:00

Failure illuminates the right way.

Response by PFC Stephen Eric Serati made Jul 16 at 2016 5:59 PM

2016-07-16T17:59:51-04:00

Dropping out of school is 1.Thank God my 1SG ordered me to Camp Geaves to take it.I Believe his exact words were get on that Humvee and don't come back till you pass.That 1 act changed everything,I didn't realize it till later after getting out.I never thanked him.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 16 at 2016 6:28 PM

2016-07-16T18:28:23-04:00

Keep on Truckin, When you quit, You Die. Keep Moving Forward. Chalk Everything Up to Life and Experience.

Response by PO3 Mirna Therrien made Jul 16 at 2016 6:32 PM

2016-07-16T18:32:51-04:00

I learned what not to do the next time around.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 16 at 2016 6:36 PM

2016-07-16T18:36:20-04:00

Have I ever mentioned the bride from hell? Let me share this bit of wisdom for all who may receive a "Dear John" from that special girl back home. She's not special! Don't give her a second chance. Or a third. Or a fourth. Yeah, fourth. What did I learn from the Bride From Hell? Just how dumb I really am...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 16 at 2016 6:38 PM

2016-07-16T18:38:30-04:00

Wow, that one was thought provoking....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 16 at 2016 6:39 PM

2016-07-16T18:39:55-04:00

Quite honestly, and candidly, I truly wouldn't even have clue one where to begin, you know? Sigh....

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2016 7:02 PM

2016-07-16T19:02:05-04:00

A failure every now and then is good for character. It makes you bounce back so much harder and get whatever your trying to accomplish. Also you may attract better into your life.
Anything you want is attainable one way or better or another you just gotta not give up. So far works for me personally.

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Jul 16 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-07-16T21:09:23-04:00

I'll admit i've done wrong many times, but have not yet failed.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2016 9:21 PM

2016-07-16T21:21:51-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I was working on a Maste'rs Degree in Computer Science and was taking two courses along with working. I was taking Boolean Algebra and had to drop the course because I did not get it. The following semester, I took two courses again, and tried my best, but was completely lost, and had to again drop the course. The demands at work changed from 50 hour weeks to 60 plus hour weeks. I ended up not completing my Master's degree because I did not have the time to devote to studying. I learned that I am not as good with math as I thought that I was.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 16 at 2016 9:23 PM

2016-07-16T21:23:35-04:00

I once had a boss that never got upset when an experiment we were doing went up in smoke. He would just say "I wonder what made it do that? Let's see if we can make it do it again!"

I always tried to keep that attitude in my research; one can learn a great deal from one's failures.

Response by SPC Jeff Payne made Jul 17 at 2016 12:35 AM

2016-07-17T00:35:22-04:00

Well said!!

Response by SMSgt Roy Dowdy made Jul 20 at 2016 1:25 PM

2016-07-20T13:25:34-04:00

When you consider Edison's greatest success came only after numerous failures, then persistence is truly the only reasonable course of action to success!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2016 1:27 PM

2016-07-20T13:27:44-04:00

No one likes to fail, but I honestly don't learn as much from winning. Even in winning there is constructive feedback that helps you get better if your skin is thick enough to take it

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 20 at 2016 3:16 PM

2016-07-20T15:16:04-04:00

In the military if you fail/Bolo you either repeat the course or reclassify, in civilian word the same applies to education, to which I had to repeat a course for missing class time. In marriage you get divorce but then you can remarry, preferably you learn to choose better> I am guilty of all!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 20 at 2016 4:14 PM

2016-07-20T16:14:44-04:00

Had a motor job that had to be done twice,fortunetally if was all warranty work.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2016 10:56 AM

2016-07-21T10:56:35-04:00

I've never felt like more of a complete failure than when at 50, I was getting my third divorce... I knew I had rushed into the marriage because more than anything, I wanted to be in a healthy and loving marriage!! I just forgot that in order to have that, you must FIRST invest the time to build a solid foundation. I still believe in and want to be married but the next time won't be just because I really want it, it will be because WE really worked for it!!

Response by SGT Michael Thorin made Jul 21 at 2016 12:22 PM

2016-07-21T12:22:15-04:00

I don't really have a specific story to tell, other than each failure I have experienced has made me a better man, not because I failed, but because I took corrective actions to fix what I could, and accepted what I couldn't.

I came up a saying a while back that I shared with my soldiers regularly, and it is:

One should never, under any circumstances, expect failure, but one should also never, under any circumstances, be unwilling to accept failure.

Response by SFC Roberto Garza Jr. made Jul 21 at 2016 2:01 PM

2016-07-21T14:01:25-04:00

I have failed at some things but I guess what I learned was that I was never nor am I afraid to fail. Those failures really created a well rounded professional. Everyone has to fail at something, noone is perfect. I think not being afraid to fail is what led me not to fail at much.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2016 7:08 PM

2016-07-21T19:08:26-04:00

Pick myself up, dusted off, say a few swear words, circle x and drive on. Personal philosophy is, as long as I learned from the "mistake" it is a learning point, not a failure

Response by LTC Jesse Edwards made Jul 22 at 2016 11:25 PM

2016-07-22T23:25:34-04:00

I was a 1LT in a Medical Company (Company XO and Plt Ldr) in a Medical Battalion before the FSB concept was born. My company had the support role which meant i was the junior officer running around in background to make a .45 qualifying range for officers and senior NCOs happen. It was 1982 and we had settled into the nonsense of being a "peacetime Army".
In the midst of active support, I jumped out of my vehicle, got on the line, and nailed it. It was towards the end of live fire and I was told I was easily the best shot in the battalion.
After wrap up, my company commander told me the battalion commander wanted to talk to me.
I literally double timed down the hill to the Bn HQ thinking he was going to tell me about how much he respected my fine shooting.
Well, we were at Fort Ord and it was late October. Somewhere along the line, someone decided to modify the uniform to include Field Jackets. I didn't get the message.
I reported to the O5 commander as a new 1LT.
He proceeded to chew my ass out for not wearing the proper uniform on the range.
Literally no one had done more to support that range that day and no one fired better than I did.
Before he dismissed me, he asked me if I had anything to say for myself.
I asked him who had the best qualifying score.
He said he didn't know.
I replied that I had the highest score and that I was leaving his office knowing that I was proud of what I'd contributed that day. I rendered a proper salute and did a smart about face.
So what did I learn about failure?
I learned that you need to do your best and what you think is right. You cannot let others define failure for you.
Some people are obsessed with the wrong shit.

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Jul 24 at 2016 9:55 AM

2016-07-24T09:55:41-04:00

I refer back to a saying I once seen on an insurance company sign.
I have found 10,000 ways to do wrong, yet I have not once failed.

Response by SPC(P) Samuel T. made Jul 24 at 2016 8:13 PM

2016-07-24T20:13:29-04:00

Agreed we learn so much more from failure

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2016 5:39 AM

2016-07-26T05:39:47-04:00

I was mentoring a platoon of mostly jr Soldiers. I thought I was really getting through to them and shaping professional Soldiers who would be the next great leaders. One was particularly promising. He was intelligent, hard working and reliable. We discussed the dangers of alcohol and how Soldiers throw careers away by doing things that are illegal. Then one weekend he got drunk and broke the law. I'm still trying to figure out how I failed that Soldier. Sure I can pin it all on him, but if failing to influence a Soldier isn't a leadership failure, what is? As for now I'm trying to overcome my failure by studying leadership beyond Army publications.

Response by LCpl Todd Houston made Nov 9 at 2016 9:16 AM

2016-11-09T09:16:58-05:00

After the gulf war, i went back to camp pendleton,ca with my unit. I was a euphonium player with the 1st Mar Div Band. However when we were deployed we were perimeter security for maj. gen. Mike Myatt. So when we got home we performed in many victory parades to include Washington DC and New York. Instead of going back after New York, I took leave and auditioned for the Presidents Own. I had been practicing for almost a year. After almost 45 seconds into the audition (an eternity), they said thank you. Take care. Afterward I went and visited with the drum major. He asked how long the audition was and I told him. He said, "wow, thats pretty good, most dont make it past 20 seconds." i said, but i bombed. A year of work. Then i got some advice that has always stuck with me. He said, " did you give 110%? Did you go in prepared? Then he said you didnt fail until you fail to try again." he said I had no college degree and was 2 years out of high school, what did i expect? He listened to my prepared piece and said i played it fine. It was that they were looking for a very particular sound and so what if i didnt get in. Just try again. In due time i ended up playing so many great gigs to include island hopping the s. pacific and sydney, australia. I have used that advice with all my students over the last thirty years and they learn they can do the most amazing things!!!

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 9 at 2016 8:32 PM

2016-11-09T20:32:57-05:00

Failures hmm so many, one that sticks out is the EFMB. It was Vilseck Germany I made it through the whole course and missed the night navigation by 1marker I appeald it figuring I was done I didn't study for the written exam. The day of the exam I was informed I had won my appeal. I failed the written completed the march and received a completion certificate. I went to the next EFMB in Baum holder Germany and aced it i was 1 of 20 to receive the award out of 300+ that started never give up and learn from your mistakes. I have carried that through my life. Although I did attempt suicide with a break barrel shot gun. I am here because it wasn't my time. When you have a shot gun in your mouth and get a click no bang. You know that you are here for a reason I don't know what that is but I contemplate what that is everyday.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2016 9:37 PM

2016-11-09T21:37:43-05:00

That I am going to fail again, and did I learn a lesson from that failure. COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Response by PO2 Sybil "TT" I. made Nov 10 at 2016 12:16 AM

2016-11-10T00:16:53-05:00

By the time I left the service I was the master at what I did, and the go-to-girl.

Why? I made so many mistakes, I invented new ones. Just having to learn how to clean up the mess and correct the situation, taught me self-reliance, advanced decision making, creativity, flexibility, nuances with the law and regs, loopholes, accountability, resiliency, grit (how to dust yourself off and keep going, no matter the pressure) and just how to get it done. I learned things the average person doing my job wouldn't understand, would never learn and/or have a breakdown over.

I can honestly say my failures were the foundation and accumulation of my greatest successes.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 10 at 2016 12:07 PM

2016-11-10T12:07:16-05:00

if you quit after the first failure you are a failure...
Never give up... never stop trying...

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Nov 17 at 2016 2:42 PM

2016-11-17T14:42:11-05:00

I have failed a few times, and as I look back, every one of my failures had a purpose. They helped me grow. They helped me to be stronger. We shouldn't fear failure. It can be the best friend you have ever had.

Response by PO3 Ricky Foster made Nov 20 at 2016 5:55 PM

2016-11-20T17:55:03-05:00

I did not always learn something, sometimes I had to repeat that failure before the lesson took home. The best thing I can say is you can something from everything, even if it's not what to do.