16/10/2020
Failure is our greatest teacher and it’s a part of every successful sheepdog trainers journey. No great accomplishment was ever achieved without failures along the way. It’s how you handle it that defines how you move forward.
If you believe failure is an opportunity to improve and have a growth mindset; you understand that what is important is to always keep learning, not to always be flawless.
It’s reported it took Thomas Edison 1,000 tries before he developed a successful lightbulb. When asked “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” he said,“I didn’t fail 1,000 times, the light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
However, many avoid the prospect of failure not wanting to risk the disappointment, rejection, judgment, embarrassment or perceived futility. But being so focused on not failing, can result in settling for less or in striving for perfection, and putting too much pressure on your dog.
Rather than get discouraged, those with a growth mindset look upon failure as Edison did, steppingstones to success.
You can improve as much as you’re committed to do so, one day at a time. Be willing to work hard, always be learning and believe in yourself and your dog.
Patricia Alasdair MacRae
