Purpose Driven Failure: Take the Biggest Risk, Make the Dumbest Mistake and Utterly Lose
Posted on 20. May, 2008 by Aaron Marshall in Church, Social Media
Ask successful entrepreneurs what experiences have taught them the most. If they are humble they will recount a failed venture that was desperately painful, but taught them key lessons that help them to be successful today.
One technique I use for winning at games I’ve never played before is to intentionally lose. After a couple of games of being completely destroyed, I begin to see quite clearly what I need to do to win. (My wife can be a fierce competitor so I don’t always win).
I Learn More from Failure than I do from Success. Should I Purposely Fail?
If I am particularly talented this will mean I will have to bite off way more than I can chew. It’s easy for me to “Go Big” or be a “Risk Taker” yet secretly maintain control. The feeling security brings can be seductive… Unfortunately that means I will miss the greatest return of seeing miracles and growing in a trust relationship with my Creator.
God is More Interested in my Character Development than my Comfort.
Consider it pure joy when I face trials, rejoice in my sufferings, there is no condemnation, die to myself… These are not just “positive attitude” Scriptures, they are powerful challenges for me to live RADICALLY BROKEN and trust that I could not make a mess big enough that God could not clean it up.
The Worst Consequence of Living to Fail: People will Think I am a Failure.
The truth is I am a failure, without multiple miracles I would be dead. To hide that fact is to again be seduced by comfort and miss out on a satisfying relationship with Jesus. I confess this is deep issue for me.
Am I doing just enough for people to THINK they are seeing God’s glory, while in reality it is me just bolstering my personal brand?
Thanks for the insight Aaron! This idea seems oddly empowering. I’m thinking about doing some crazy things with my life here pretty soon – I’m in transition right now.
I’m wondering if this gives me permission to go live in a van and travel around the country. Or start a coffee shop?
Jesse, don’t wait to feel called, if you are reading the same book I am than you are ALREADY called to make that leap and live radically.
I heard Floyd McClung say “plan to go but be willing to stay, instead of being willing to go and planning to stay”*. Make every effort and be intentional about making that leap, whatever it is.
*(not sure who first said that, though I think he said it was a group from YWAM)
CHURCHSMO thank you for the blog post it was redeeming to me in several ways. I have served several church staffs over the past few years, and during that time, I have experienced some less than favorable leadership styles.
Thinking of the areas of frustration I had during those years has only proven the point you make in this post that we can learn from failures. I served under a guy who I know didn’t read his Bible on a regular basis, YES a pastor who didn’t read the very book he told people was so important to guide their life. His failure and poor leadership caused me problems and personal greif, and showed me the direction I should not take my life. i.e. his failure enlightened the solution for my life.
Another occurrence was a guy who continually micromanaged me as a underling not a partner in the common goal we shared, and my creativity was squashed and my ideas were almost never considered. Considering this failure of leadership I learned to listen to people’s voice, and consider their solutions with my ideas.
Your article has redeemed months and months of anger and frustration with people who have caused me personal grief. Thank you for the challenge of looking @ my failure (or others failures that effected my attitude) in a different way.
Aaron,
While I agree that we cant even begin to grow until we can look at failures and loss and find the gifts hidden within. Facing loss and failure with love and purity of heart is certainly fundamental and a challenge. However what I have discovered as I have aged is that it is far more of a challenge to learn from what has gone right. To challenge myself to look for the growth opportunities when it seems that I or the situation is “good enough” to see what gifts came and along with them responsibility. To move forward from a place of comfort and realize that this was a resting stop not a permanent station. That is my challenge. I know I can handle the next trauma or debacle (I have much experience) what I dont know is if I will take everything that I am learning right now without incidence and use it in the way God has outlined for my life. His direction has always been much clearer for me when Im laying on the ground
I just recently resigned from the company I’ve been with for 6 years. (yeah, good timing, right?). I left primarily because I heard God calling me into something more exciting. Of course as of right now I just don’t know what that’s supposed to be! The only thing I know for sure is it was time to go.
I’m hoping that there’s not going to be a spectacular failure in the middle of this transition. But if there is, I trust that God can always take that and turn it into something good.
Although to be honest, I’d much rather not go that route.
E. Barrett
Awesome! Sounds like and exciting time in your life.
I have found it absolutely indispensable to have mentors and coaches help me process through those kinds of transitions. Meet people, read books and pray hard to not be anxious about ANYTHING is what I try to do.
Anxiety can produce poor decisions, especially when negotiating a new career.
That’s excellent advice. The biggest fear I have is stepping out into the unknown. Which is partly why I think God is having me act first, and understand second. (I’m a lot more comfortable the other way around!)
He’s always come through for me in one way or another. I just need to trust that, and not let my fear drive me to poor decisions as you say.