When Falling Short Means You're Aiming High...

No podcast this week as Bart is in Arizona doing some team roping!

December is a whirlwind of activity, isn't it? We're juggling our regular work or business routines with the added excitement of shopping, festive gatherings, and special events. As we deck the halls, enjoy choir or band performances, and maybe even have a few Grinch-like moments that double as Scrooge-worthy, there's that tiny voice in the back of our minds reminding us that the year is wrapping up.

It makes us pause and wonder, what have we actually accomplished this year? Are we better people than we were at the beginning of the year? Have we done what we set out to do?

Sitting here, I can't help but reflect on all the funnels we've launched that just didn't take off. We've crafted products that didn't quite hit the mark, and put together countless lead magnets, social media posts, ads, did hours of research, created ebooks, and courses that didn't go as planned.

On the personal side, it's tough when you feel like you're not quite measuring up in a relationship or when it seems like no matter how hard you try, you never feel like you’re good enough. Whether it's chasing a goal or a dream only to fall short… those emotions can be a tough load to bear.

And that brings me to a quote that struck me deeply and wanted to share with you…

This particular quote struck me because it seemed to flip a switch in my brain: failure and defeat is what we should be pursuing… not hiding from. 

Why?

I believe a lot of it boils down to what we see as the true purpose and meaning of our lives. If we think it's about growing beyond our current selves, breaking through limits, or passionately chasing what truly sets our souls on fire, then failure becomes a stepping stone, not a roadblock.

The more we try, the more we might stumble, but with courage and resilience, we also achieve more and reach greater heights. We gradually transform into the people we aspire to be. And as the challenges we face grow bigger, so do we, becoming even more remarkable humans.

5 Ways Failure Is One of Life’s Greatest Teachers

1. Failure is a catalyst for growth

• Learning: Failure provides insights we wouldn’t otherwise gain. It reveals blind spots, teaches resilience, and shows us what doesn’t work.

• Adaptation: When something doesn’t go as planned, we are forced to adapt, innovate, and think in ways that stretch our current abilities.

2. Failure Breaks Comfort Zones

• To grow, we need to push beyond what’s comfortable or easy. Failure is often the result of trying something new, bold, or challenging.

• Every stumble pushes the boundaries of what we thought was possible, preparing us to face even greater challenges.

3. Failure Cultivates Strength and Resilience

• Each failure builds emotional and mental fortitude. Over time, we learn to bounce back faster and with greater clarity.

• Resilience isn’t just about surviving failure—it’s about thriving because of it.

4. Failure Redefines Success

• Success becomes more meaningful when it’s earned through struggle and perseverance. Without failure, success can feel hollow or accidental.

• Failure clarifies what truly matters and realigns us with our goals and values.

5. Failure Inspires Creativity

• Setbacks force us to think creatively, solve problems, and find paths we might not have otherwise considered.

• Many great inventions, breakthroughs, and successes were born from the ashes of failure.

The Beauty of Failure is that each failure expands our capacity for greatness. With each attempt, even if we fail, we grow closer to becoming the person we’re meant to be.

The key is not to fear failure but to embrace it as a natural, necessary, and even beautiful part of the journey toward growth and transformation.

Life Updates:

• Bart is in Arizona this week doing some team roping! I am so freakin’ excited for him and love that he gets to go pursue one of his passions. Word so far is that he has caught every single steer he has roped … but his heelers have missed. Wish him luck!

• I stayed home with Xander and got to attend his Gem State Honor Band performance. The band was absolutely incredible. On top of that, the conductor (a Boise High School band teacher) had some words of wisdom for the students and the audience. She mentioned that coming in as a conductor that nobody knows and bringing her own material made her feel very vulnerable - kind of like, when the spotlight is on you, are people going to like it or hate it? But she mentioned to her students that it is important to be courageous and to push past your comfort zones. She did that herself by bringing some music that she had never conducted before. Very inspiring!

• Candle sales have been keeping me pretty busy as Mercedes is home with Lyla and I am handling the shipping - but at the same time, lots of fun things going on with our other businesses. We are about to launch a new website (will share more details when it is live) and want to shout out JoDee and Cara at Elevate5. Really excited to have a “home base” for Bart and I on the web!

Was this forwarded to you? Sign Up Here