Failing Forward in 2010

I have been thinking about failure a bit, as I contemplate my goals for 2010. When I was younger, I never even considered failure an option. Now as an older, presumably wiser person I understand that not everything I undertake works out the way I thought.

Turns out I'm not alone. Here in the 15 Flops of the Decade Business Insider reveals some great big ideas that turned out to be great big failures. Take for instance the "Ownership Society" which sounded great, but yielded a nation of foreclosures and banks with toxic assets. Oops... guess that didn't work out too well...

It made me wonder, how do you handle failure? Do you expect it as a natural part of the growth process or does it shock you when it pokes its head into your life? Do you pour shame and contempt on your self, put on your dunce cap and pout? (really? I thought I had that one patented!) Or do you recognize that failure is a natural part of human growth and development, learn your lesson and move on? Let's agree to fail forward in 2010.

The Bible says it this way...

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.

But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked

Look before you Leap! in 2009

Blink. Everybody is always complaining about a lack of time, but they never do anything about it! Finally, someone did something. Did you miss it? That's right, you news buffs know that the U.S. Naval Observatory, keeper of the Pentagon's master clock, added an extra second last Wednesday in coordination with the world's atomic clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. It is a phenomenon known as "The Leap Second."

If you blinked, you may have missed it. But have no fear--I have an idea for you to start 2009 on the right foot. You can redeem your Leap Second using a very simple exercise. Ready?

How to Redeem your Leap Second

1. Think about an area in your life that you KNOW needs work in 2009. If you are having trouble thinking of a topic, ask your wife, or your roommate. (If you both are having trouble, pinch yourself, you may still be hung over from New Year's)

2. Think about the last time you felt good about that problem area. If it is weight, when did you last feel good about your progress? If devotions, when was the last time you were on track? If it is chain saw juggling, when was the last time you can remember having all your limbs? You get the picture.

3. Determine WHAT you were doing at that time that made you feel like you were making progress. Were you keeping a certain schedule that helped? Did you sit in a certain chair to pray? Did you start eating a certain food, avoiding a certain person, etc.? There was something that made you feel that you were on the right track before.

4. Use your "LEAP SECOND" at the best time for you TODAY to perform that "on track" excercise. That way you can "LEAP" back on track to success in 2009.

Good luck, and let me know what you used your second for...