雖未證實但確定會通往失敗的途徑—THE UNTRIED BUT TRUE PATH TO FAILURE
By Robert J. Tamasy
你是否曾經因為害怕失敗而拒絕嘗試做一些事？害怕擔起工作上更多的責任？害怕轉職？或者是開始一個充滿挑戰的自我提升課程？我先承認，自己很多次都如此。很諷刺的是，因為我們決定不去嘗試，所以100%已經失敗了。
不久之前，我看到一個不具名的引述說：「成就來自於決定要嘗試。」這聽起來很理所當然，或者根本是常識。所以當我們遇到一個挑戰，卻決定不去努力或者冒失敗的風險去嘗試，這聽起來一點也沒道理。
大家都熟知愛迪生發明燈泡的故事，這是一個經典的例子。他嘗試過無數次才製造出自己理想中的燈泡。當我們回顧歷史，也能找出其他無數像愛迪生這樣的例子。在這裡，我不想錦上添花，只是想為那些有很棒的想法，卻不願意嘗試而錯失成功機會的人感到惋惜。
好幾個世紀之前，中國的哲學家孟子就說：「求而得之，捨而失之。」這讓我想起我的朋友麥可，幾年前他選擇離開一個安逸、高薪的工作，從零開始創辦了一個軟體顧問公司。他的辦公室在自己家裡的地下室，他的辦公桌是一扇臨時架在兩個文件櫃中間的門。他知道有家庭的人，離開了一個有穩定薪水的工作，是非常冒險的，因為他們必須支付一些固定的開支，例如健康保險。
後來帳單開始堆積，他又剛好生重病住院，當時他很想放棄自己的夢想。「我到底在想甚麼？」他不只一次問自己。但是他最後還是決定要繼續堅持自己的理想，這時剛好成功找到一個需求量很大的客戶。經過了一段時間，他和他的員工建立了一個很成功的國際企業。麥可經歷到實現自己創業的夢想所帶來的成就感，在這個過程當中，麥可的信心開始逐漸成長。
如果我們有一個夢想，或是一輩子想要達成的願望，但是發現要達成的機率不高，我們應該要做甚麼？聖經提供我們一些想法。
把你的信心放在正確的地方。就算是最有天分和有經驗的人有時候還是會受到厄運的試煉。但是，如果我們相信神會帶領我們，在信心上增長，不往前走就是不順服。「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。」 (箴言3章5-6節)
把神放在第一位。在做任何重大的決定之前，禱告，把事情交託給神，誠心地尋求祂的智慧和引導。我們一旦對祂的帶領有信心，不管我們要嘗試做甚麼，我們都會很確信祂會與我們同在。「又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。」 (詩篇37篇4-5節)
© 2018. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
- 你曾經因為害怕失敗，而不願意嘗試新事物嗎？如果有，未來你是否還會想嘗試它？
- 對於新的事物你是否願意去挑戰，甚至是做生活型態的改變？
- 雖然可能會失敗，嘗試沒做過的新事物，我們能學到甚麼？
- 在做重大決定之前，你會尋求神的智慧和引導？請分享您的經驗。這是否能幫助你在做不熟悉或未知的新嘗試時(結果不確定)，更加容易呢？
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，希望知道更多關於這個主題的經文，請參考：
箴言 12章11節
12:11耕種自己田地的，必得飽食；追隨虛浮的，卻是無知。
箴言 12章 24節
12:24殷勤人的手必掌權；懶惰的人必服苦。
以賽亞書26章3節
26:3堅心倚賴你的，你必保守他十分平安，因為他倚靠你。
以賽亞書41章10節
41:10你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的 神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；必用我公義的右手扶持你。
耶利米書 29章11節
29:11耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。
馬太福音 28章20節
28:20凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」
約翰一書 4章18節
4:18愛裏沒有懼怕；愛既完全，就把懼怕除去。因為懼怕裏含著刑罰，懼怕的人在愛裏未得完全。
THE UNTRIED BUT TRUE PATH TO FAILURE
Have you ever chosen not to attempt things because of fear you might fail? Maybe it was assuming greater responsibility at work, trying to change careers, or even attempting to begin an ambitious self-improvement program? I have to admit having been guilty of that several times. This is ironic, because if we decide not try to do something, there is 100 percent certainty we will not accomplish it.
Not long ago I came across a quote from an unknown source that states, “Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.” Sounds like a no-brainer, because it seems like common sense. But when we confront a challenge and determine it is not worth the effort – or the risk of failure – to attempt, we affirm this “sense” is not so common after all.
Most of us are familiar with the classic case of Thomas Edison, inventor of the incandescent light bulb, who had to make hundreds of attempts before he finally succeeded in producing an electrical light as he had imagined. Scanning the pages of history, we could find countless other examples. But my intent here is not to celebrate the successes of those to tried and persisted. Rather, it is to mourn all of those who have conceived great ideas, but failed because they were unwilling to try.
A Chinese philosopher named Mencius many centuries ago expressed it in other terms: “The difference between enthusiasm and indifference is filled with failures.” My friend, Mike, comes to mind. Years ago he chose to leave a secure, well-compensated job to start a software consulting company from scratch. His “office” was in the basement of his house, his makeshift desk consisting of a door stretched across two file cabinets. He knew it was risky, having a small family and leaving the certainty of a steady paycheck, along with corporate benefits such as health insurance.
As bills began to mount and he was briefly hospitalized with a serious illness, Mike was tempted to give up on his dream. “What was I thinking?” he asked himself more than once. But he determined to continue pursuing his vision and found a much-needed client “just in the nick of time.” Over time he and a small staff built the business into a successful international company. Mike experienced the fulfillment of realizing his entrepreneurial vision; his faith also grew greatly through in the process.
If we have a vision – or a lifetime dream – but find our resolve to pursue it wavering, what should we do? The Scriptures give us some insight:
Place your trust in the right place. Even the most talented and experienced people have times when their resolve is tested by adversity. However, if we believe God is leading to take a step of faith, not taking that step would be an act of disobedience. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Make God – and His will – your priority. Before making any major decision, first commit the matter to God in prayer, sincerely seeking His wisdom and direction. Once we are confident of how He is leading, we can be assured He is with us in what we are trying to do. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:4-5).
© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s website is www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, and his biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a time when you were reluctant to try something new, fearful that you would fail? If so, what was that – and is it still on your “to do someday” list?
- How inclined are you to venture into the unknown, to try a new task, confront a new challenge, or even make a major lifestyle or career change?
- What can we learn when attempting something we have never done before, even if it were to result in failure?
- Do you turn to God, seeking wisdom and guidance, before making a major decision? If you do, give an example of how that has affected your decision-making process. Has that made it easier for you to try the unfamiliar or unknown, even if you have no certainty of the ultimate outcome?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Proverbs 12:11,24; Isaiah 26:3, 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 28:20; 1 John 4:18
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