Can an ole cowboy in the southwest become an innovative change consultant? What about becoming an online entrepreneur?

A couple of things come to mind here. First, let's talk about failure and what it is and what it is not.

I could state the Webster's definition here, but why do that! Everyone knows what a failure is, right? Instead of that boring definition, let me use an example here.

As a young and aspiring cowboy, I wanted to learn how to ride bulls. At an early age I was fascinated by the bravery and skill of cowboys that came to our local rodeo. I was in awe! How can a man stay on that 2,000+ lbs of raw and untamed strength? And the rider was only allowed to use a single hand under a rope that went around the belly of the beast to secure him onto the beast's back! The other hand, I learned later gave the cowboy balance as the bull wildly rocked and bucked around the arena.

Fear of failure was never an issue with me. I started small, because I knew I couldn't get up on a fully grown bull and expect to stay alive! So I started my bull riding career on a fairly tame steer of about 500 lbs. He was even halter broke. I thought that would make it all that much easier. Little did I know, that steer really didn't like someone sitting on his back!

In one fell swoop, that steer shifted his weight, kicked up his rear feet like a mule, and quite expertly put me on the ground. There I lay, looking up at the sky. From my vantage point, I knew I had been whooped! I failed!

My bull riding career came to a screeching halt! I no longer had the desire to continue as a bull rider. Failure was my only option.

Now that brings us to the difference between failures and mistakes.

Failure is when you try something new and are unable to master the skills or tasks required for success.

A mistake, on the other hand, is an error we make while doing something we know how to do. For example, I know how to spell cowboy, but if I mistakenly hit the 'u' key, it becomes cowbou. A mistake on my part. I know how to spell it, but I made a mistake when I typed it in.

I count my bull riding career, as short as it was, as a failure. What mistakes did I make while pursuing that career?

None!

I did not know enough to make any mistakes. Now this is key. I don't want to learn from my mistakes, because mistakes are only errors that I have made while doing something I already know how to do. Yes I would like to correct the mistakes I make. But what am I learning while doing that?

Failure is a great option! What? Am I about to be committed and spend the rest of my born days in a rubber room? How can failing be good?

This early failure taught me one very important lesson. And I attribute this lesson to my Father, who said this to me when he learned of my failure as a bull rider. He said, "Son, I am so proud of you!"

I was floored. Did I hear him say he is proud of me? For failing?

My Dad explained, "It is not important how many times we fail at something we set our hand to, but it is very important that you learn something every time you fail. Now, what did you learn?"

My Dad couldn't read or write very well, because he went to work to support his family at the same age as I was when I started my bull riding career. He was 10 when he stopped going to school and started working on his Uncle's farm. He had a fourth grade education. His words of wisdom has been with me ever since.

I don't remember my response to him, but I have always remembered this: Failure is a great option, but only if we learn from it! I never was afraid of failing after that, because I knew failures brought learning with it.

Thanks, Dad.