Thomas Alva Edison

Do you feel like a failure? How are you choosing to frame “failure”?

Unemployment, slow business, foreclosures, and underemployment are just some of the struggles pressing into the hearts and minds of many today. As debt stares you in the face and the opportunities apparently diminish, the personal repercussions can cause us to lose hope and begin to see our lives as failing.

This situational depression can weigh on one’s spirit to the point of discouragement and negativity if we paint ourselves as failures.

What if your perspective, not your current circumstance, is the problem?

Today’s On-Purpose Minute invites us to stop looking outward and begin looking inward and upward for a fresh approach that holds the key to grasping the present situation and life beyond.

Thomas Alva Edison, the great inventor, saw “failure” as information. (See the video clip “I Haven’t Failed” by my actor friend, Frank Attwood, who portrays Edison.) How many times have you tried and “failed” only to discover you were one step closer to success?

Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director, in the movie Apollo 13 is attributed with saying “Failure is not an option,” in the face of saving the crew in space. When failure isn’t an option, then what are the options?

Learning
Growth
Preparation
Creativity
Exploration
Work-arounds

Fresh and exciting options must open up!

When we play scared, we play not to win.

The best we can do is hold steady or lose ground. A shaky self-defeating cycle is set up that once it is in motion can gain momentum and overwhelm us.

Learning to play with reasoned abandon may sound like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. It means that we’re disconnected specifically to the end result, but we’re highly focused on the matters at hand. This frees us to play for the sheer joy and moment, yet aware that what we’re doing in the moment matters. Athletes call it being in “the zone.” It is preparation and hard work intersecting with opportunity.

Truthfully, you’re apt “to choke” the first few encounters, but in time you’ll grow through the experience and be on the way to success. That’s how failures become successes.

Thomas Alva Edison was my boyhood inspiration. Sure, I admired professional athletes, but it was Edison who captured my fascination. In elementary and middle school, I read every book about him I could find.

Six years ago, when my friend Frank Attwood, called to say he was thinking of doing a one man show portraying Edison, my ears perked up. Turns out that Edison was a hero in Frank's childhood as well. Since, I've had to the pleasure to see Frank portray Edison on several occasions. It is really a joy.

Periodically, Frank and I connect by phone and talk Edison insights on life and business. Frank's keen mind and love of research has uncovered Edison's remarkable wisdom, perspectives, and character quirks – and he was quirky by average standards. Edison was known for his inventions, but his gift for business building is largely overlooked today. Companies like General Electric, AB Dick, RCA, and scores of others were build on inventions from Edison's labs. Frank bring Edison to life fully and smartly in relevant terms to my life and work. Imagine tapping into his brilliance today to better inform your tomorrow.

Image via Wikipedia

Are you looking for a speaker for your next business conference? Are you struggling with tapping into innovation and inventiveness? Does your association need an entertaining, yet educational performance to inspire your members and help them see the world in a more positive light? Please get in touch with Frank. He's a businessman turned actor turned portrayal actor… and a fine man to boot! Book Frank from his web site: www.attwoodasedison.com.

Last evening I stumbled upon Frank as I was walking out a building and he was coming in to set up for a performance. Quickly, I altered my plans and 40 minutes later I sat captivated by his Attwood as Edison performance. Frank shared how Edison boldly stated that he would "Light Manhattan" and he did thanks to the vision and financial backing of J.P. Morgan.

Frank and I had this photo (below) made just in front the most modest of his sets. I just had to share it with you. You can see that Frank has a fair likeness to Mr. Edison (right).

Do You Feel Like a Failure?

Do you feel like a failure? How are you choosing to frame “failure”?

What if your perspective, not your current circumstance, is the problem?

When we play scared, we play not to win.