To inspire creativity, I’ve often heard people ask: What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
After all if you couldn’t fail, you’d be willing to try anything. The question implies a huge safety net.
Seth Godin turns the question on it’s head by asking: What would you do if you knew you would fail?
Phrasing the question in this way demands that you put in the work. It requires commitment and effort. It calls on you to apply ass to chair.
What would you do if you knew you’d fail? You would get to work, trying, executing, failing, trying again. You would test your effort against your natural gifts.
Creativity isn’t about pretending you won’t fail.
You most certainly will experience failure. It’s about how you respond when you do.
Rich