“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

• Wayne Gretzky

“It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.” — Ellen DeGeneres

“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.” — Robert Kiyosaki

When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel.” — Eloise Ristad

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!” — Rocky Balboa

“The moment that my fear of missing out trumped my fear of failure is when I started living. ” — Yours truly

There is this misconception about life that failure is a bad thing. Sure it stings like being reminded of a paper cut on your hands by rubbing hand sanitizer on them. But with the right mindset and perseverance, failure is the quickest way to success. In fact it’s necessary for success. I once heard failure described as massive data acquisition. So when you’re chasing a goal and it doesn’t work out the first time, it doesn’t mean quit. It means regroup, take notes, adjust as needed and keep moving forward.

At some point in life most people are taught to play it safe and avoid failure at all costs. This leads to an unfulfilling life. We were made to do extraordinary things, but we aren’t born with those skills. Those skills are discovered, acquired and refined through trying new things, and trying new things means there will be discomfort and failure.

In the movie ‘Meet the Robinsons’ there is a scene where this kid is enthusiastically showing off a project he had been working on, only to have it literally blow up in his face. You could see the disappointment and embarrassment he was feeling with so many people watching him.

Then all the people watching him smiled and yelled with excitement, “You failed!!” Understandably he was confused at the reaction, so they explained to him that failure meant he was one step closer to success. All he had to do was keep trying.

The first time I gave a speech in front of a massive audience of seven people I did horrible. I stuttered, stumbled, and stammered through six painful minutes. By speaking standards it would be deemed a failure but that failure changed my life. I learned that I could actually get in front of people and talk and I learned how to become a great speaker because I kept pushing forward, despite the failure.

Failure also conditions and strengthens you so that in the process you can become the type of person that can handle success.

Now I ask you this…Is there something that you’ve been putting off because you were afraid of failing? In the next twenty-four hours, throw the fear of failure out and welcome it.

Mike T. Smith is a youth motivational speaker, author, bullying consultant and a failure at FortNite. For more info visit http://miketsmith.net.

The truth is I don’t and I tell them as much. But it gives me the opportunity to tell them that most limitations are self imposed and usually forced on you by an experience that you had or something a well meaning person told you (ex. “That’s just how it is in our family…”).

Don’t be mad at those people. They mean well but they are holding you back. It’s like wrapping a kid up in bubble wrap when they’re learning to ride a bike without training wheels.

Sure they won’t get hurt but they won’t ride a bike either.

But there is awesome news!

Since these limitations are self imposed that means that they can be removed by the self also.

All it takes is a shift in mindset. The willingness to stretch past your comfort zone, hard work and being open to constructive criticism. Then you adjust and take more action.

I wasn’t born a speaker. I made myself into a speaker by sheer will. I was willing to go past my comfort zone, learn the skills, take action, listen to feedback, adjust and take more action.

I am no different than you, although you’re more than likely taller. So you have it within you.

We are all a work in progress, and if you’re not working and you’re not progressing this is the moment to start.

Right now. Start.

Why are you still reading? Seriously…start already.