Mastering the Roll: Succeeding Amidst Change Means Trying New Things, Failing, and Trying More

Failure Is the Only Option

Change means trying new things and failing. It means vulnerability and frustration to the point of anger. It means suffering. It means getting comfortable hanging upside down in your boat, under the icy water, without oxygen. It means hanging in there and continuing to function even when you look and feel foolish—and then rolling back up. It means failing and then recovering to continue on, and then failing again.

Business is about avoiding mistakes. We all want to appear competent. Success means knowing what to do and getting the job done. So we struggle with the idea that failing is part of the job of change. It is for kids, but once you stop being a toddler, it is no longer “cute” to fall over while walking down ...