Go Bigger, Dream Bigger - episode 62
We are launching “Insta-Summer” a series which will feature a different guest each week we have made a connection with on the popular social media app, Instagram. So for the first time we are having conversations with people we’ve never actually met. I have no doubt it will be a wonderful adventure.
First up we have Carla Biesinger who is a rock star in the world of Instagram. She created and marketed a successful online course, among other content, to help others navigate the social media waters. She is all about helping, supporting and encouraging to people find their passion, pursue it, and then share it with the world. The whole big idea for this new adventure came in an unusual way, and in an unlikely place. Intrigued? I know I sure was.
Carla is an inspiration to her tens of thousands of followers and to those who have taken her course. She is humble, warm, and easy to talk to. Open about where this path will lead, she is grateful for the quality of life it has brought her for Carla gets to be an entrepreneur, enjoying her passions for food, travel and encouraging others. I am thankful our paths crossed. You can find her on Instagram @carlabiesinger.
Foodie. Traveler. Resilient.
— Carla
Fail Forward
Thoughts from Go Bigger, Dream Bigger
Fail fast, fail often, fail forward as shared by Carla during our conversation. After a little sleuthing it turns out John C. Maxwell is the one credited with this quote. The original is Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward. Google shows there are many iterations of this saying. They all mean the same thing. Do not let “failing” stop you from pursuing your passion. Take each misstep and use it as opportunity to learn and grow. You can regroup and be better than the first go-round because you failed.
A few examples. Albert Einstein was expelled from school, and told by a teacher he would never amount to anything. What?! Of course we know him to be one of the greatest physicists of all time, winning a Nobel prize, discovering all kinds of stuff I don’t fully understand. (Google his quotes. They are inspirational!) Vincent Van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime, four months before his death. What?! Any one painting by Van Gogh would cost around $100 million or more today. Isn’t it a shame he didn’t get to realize his talent and success? (He is this author’s favorite artist.) And what about Michael Jordan? He was cut as a sophomore from his basketball team. During his illustrious career he missed over 12,000 shots and lost close to 400 games. What?! He is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. (He is this author’s favorite basketball player, and no, I don’t follow basketball.)
Now these examples all happen to be men. There are plenty of examples of women failing, picking themselves up, seizing what they garnered from the experience, and moving forward, better than ever. A few from my own life. I ran for school vice-president in the 5th grade and lost. I was so disappointed! Determined to try again, I ran for president in the 6th grade and won becoming the first female president in the history of my school. And no, I’m not that old. It was a small, fairly new school. I have been fired from two high school jobs. First for laughing (long story but I learned to be more professional), and calling in sick (my boyfriend pretended to be my dad and I learned it is better to be truthful). I have “failed” at relationships. Going back for more after infidelity. Same guy - twice. The Maya Angelou quote comes to mind, When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Going back for more after abuse. Same guy - twice. Where was Maya when I needed her?
Ok, you get the idea. I could say more about parenting, step-parenting, about jobs, friendships, etc. There will be no smooth sailing in this life. There will be missteps. There will be setbacks. It’s what you do next that matters. Let’s wrap it up with John C. Maxwell’s Seven Principles of Falling Forward.
Reject rejection
Don’t point fingers
See failure as temporary
Set realistic expectations
Focus on strengths
Vary approaches to achievement
Bounce back
There you have it. You get it. The message is clear, You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. — Wayne Gretzky. Go do the thing. Listen to the nudge and follow it. And if you fail, don’t linger there. Try again, and again. Then dust yourself off, having learned, and keep moving forward.
You never fail (really) until you stop trying. — Albert Einstein
Source: johnmaxwell.com
