If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.
Woody Allen
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
Contrary to popular opinion, failure is not a sign of stagnation, but of progress. In fact, it isn’t the occasional failure that’s worrisome, but rather continued success. Failure serves the dual purpose of keeping us grounded and giving us the opportunity to course-correct. However, there is another upside of failing, one that we don’t talk about as often – it is an excellent indicator of whether we are walking down the set path or doing something different.
FAILURE AND INNOVATION
You are less likely to fail at something tried and tested than at something no one or very few others have tried before you. It goes without saying that most people actually go for the safer option and, therefore, experience relatively few failures in life. Very few of us have the courage to try the less traveled path and risk a series of setbacks, possibly even the chance of never accomplishing their goal. That being said, it is those select few, and not the overwhelming majority that decides to take a risk-free approach, who leave a legacy for future generations. That’s why a lack of failures may be a sign that you’re not doing anything very imaginative in life.
CONCLUSION
Each of us is born with a specific purpose, and that purpose definitely isn’t to follow the charted path. We are all meant to forge our own destiny, no matter how many disappointments or hardships we encounter along the way. In fact, every challenge life throws at us serves to nudge us in the right direction and helps us become a better version of ourselves.
Heywood Allen is an American filmmaker, actor and comedian. Known for his profound life quotes, Woody Allen has also authored bestsellers like Without Feathers and Side Effects. One of the better-known Woody Allen quotes concerns success and failure: “If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”