A question that has long intrigued me is, ‘Why do some companies, despite appearing mediocre, still manage to find success?’ Similarly, I’ve observed individuals who frequently seem to fail, yet they ultimately achieve greater success. What underlying dynamics are at play here?
The more I’ve observed this phenomenon, the clearer it becomes that these companies, like individuals, go through a cycle of highs and lows. Yet, a distinct principle emerges: each failure establishes a new baseline. Yes, they fail frequently and rapidly, but crucially, each failure raises the bar from their original starting point. This progressive approach turns their failures into stepping stones towards higher standards. Essentially, these companies are failing upwards.
I’ve come to understand that these cycles of success and failure are inherent in our nature as living, growing beings. Growth, it seems, is innately tied to these oscillations. I attempted to counter this for years by adhering to a disciplined, regimented schedule, hoping to achieve perfect consistency. However, this approach proved futile. Some may be able to maintain such a balance, but it’s an elusive goal for me. I invariably ride the waves of highs and lows in my life’s endeavors. So, the question arises: How do I reconcile with this inevitability of constant failure? How can I accept and embrace this as a natural part of my journey?
Watch my video on Failing Upwards, here
My resolution lies in the concept of setting new baselines. This means that with each failure, I don’t revert to square one; instead, I fall back to a previously established baseline. If this new ‘low’ is higher than where I started, it’s progress. Indeed, there will be moments of outstanding achievement and high performance. Still, the descent won’t be as steep when the inevitable downturn comes. I’ll land on a foundational, consistent behavior cultivated as my new baseline. This approach doesn’t just mitigate the impact of failures; it transforms them into opportunities for sustained growth and resilience.
This is what I believe habit formation is all about. We build new habits upon a strong foundation of small incremental behaviors in which we can be confident. Habits are never formed with herculean strides but rather slow and steady construction over a long period. We can and should reach for new highs, but the role of a core set of habits is to raise the bar for our inevitable lows.
This philosophy aligns closely with my understanding of habit formation. The construction of new habits is not about making Herculean strides; it’s about building upon a strong foundation of small, incremental behaviors that instill confidence. These habits are developed gradually through steady and consistent effort over time. While it’s important, and indeed beneficial, to aim for new heights, the fundamental role of these core habits is to elevate the baseline for our lows. By consistently raising our standards through habitual improvement, we ensure that even in times of failure, our ‘fall’ is cushioned by a higher baseline performance level, enhancing our resilience and capacity for growth.
I believe this distinction between ‘great’ and ‘merely okay’ lies in the deliberate establishment of baselines. It’s about striving for powerful growth without compromising the stable foundation an organization or an individual can always fall back on. Growth is not a linear, consistently upward trajectory; it is more accurately depicted as an ever-rising baseline of performance, increasing with each quarter, each year, until greatness is achieved. Similarly, we should push ourselves to achieve remarkable feats in our personal lives, but not at the cost of losing our core identity. It is the foundation that we constantly work on and build upon. The highs and lows, the exhilarating and the disheartening experiences will come and go. But as we progressively elevate our foundational baseline, we ensure continuous improvement and growth, defining not just what we achieve but fundamentally who we are.
