Successful Failure

Something I read recently reflects what I have both experienced and seen.  It does not need be the case, but it often is, and it seems to me my reaction to it is what counts rather than it happening.
"One of the most unexpected gifts you can receive is an early loss.  An early setback can become the catalyst for a wonderful next chapter—if you channel the emotion effectively.  Disappointment is a hot burning fuel. Let it light your fire to become better."
I read about a guy that wanted to do something positive for the gangs in New York.  On his first attempt what could go wrong did.  He failed so spectacularly that it made the newspapers.
At that point he could have decided it was all to hard.  But he decided it was what he really wanted to do, and despite the embarrassment he felt, and how spectacular his initial failure was, he gave it another go.
The thing was, when he made contact with the leader of a gang they said something like “you were the guy I read about in the paper.”  What had been a failure became the door which gave him the access he needed.
I was asked to lead the singing years ago and I had never done it before.  I prepared as best I knew how, but I have never forgotten the start.  If I could have crawled into a hole I probably would have.
But the initial failure gave way to something way better than I could have imagined.  In fact, the guy who was to speak said something to me that encouraged me no end, and I have never forgotten his words.
I don’t like failures.  Even right now I am grappling with something that just does not seem to be going anywhere, and the harder I try the more it seems to be a no go.  The thing is, I really think what I am doing is something that has incredible potential.
Sure I get discouraged, but like it or not, I feel I learn heaps that I need to know that will make success sweeter and built on a more solid foundation, that it would have been.  I know I don’t like travelling over rough areas of a road, but I if I need to I will to get where I want to go.