Would you get on a plane if you knew it was going to crash?

Would you get on a plane

if you knew it was going to crash?

Tim Connor

Tim, and your point is?

Great question. I was recently reading a book about failure and how people go out of their way to avoid it.  In the same book the author shared dozens of stories about people, some famous and many just ordinary people who faced repeated struggle, adversity and failure and not only survived but either prospered or made significant contributions to their fellow man.

There were too many to list or go into detail, I would rather share the common traits of all of these people and their actions and responses to their challenges.  But first – none of them would have boarded an airplane if they knew in advance it was going to crash.  But how do we know that the one we are on might not just be the one that does.  Read on.

First and foremost no one who begins a journey toward something new; a process, invention, goal, activity or the desire to excel wants to fail but people who have who brought courage, perseverance, patience, faith and effort to any endeavor. They all knew that sooner or later there would be challenges and obstacles, some of which could cause failure or require that they begin again and yes, again, until they reached their goal or satisfied their purpose.

Do you think Edison’s work, creativity and effort would have survived a fire that destroyed 75% of his workplace that he didn’t expect, want or see coming if he lacked belief in what he was doing?  Do you think Lincoln would have ever become President if he had given in to a life of poverty, isolation, rejection and defeat?

They and so many others understand that success is not always about the accomplishments but the willingness to continue toward the desired accomplishments in spite of what life throws in your way.

No, these people would not have started anything if they believed they would never get to where they wanted to go, but they didn’t let the discouragement or rejection of others, the uncertainty of their journey ahead, the tremendous sacrifices along the way or the potential for failure stop them. They were driven by the journey not its destination.  This doesn’t mean they weren’t focused, dedicated and committed but that their motivation was the process and they didn’t get attached to what the end would look like whether they arrived or not.

They were flexible and willing to learn, adjust and compromise letting the goal itself determine the steps they should take and how, when or where. 

Does all this stuff sound difficult? Well, yes it is and this is the reason so few people keep at it in the face of adversity, discouragement and disappointment.  They are driven by their feelings, fears or ego.

Do you have what it takes to do something significant? In your career business, relationships, church or community?  I don’t care if it’s a new job, business, marriage, or invention, sooner or later you will face a crossroads as to whether to change course, give up or keep at it, learning to better manage your responses, attitudes, decisions and actions to what life throws at you.

You might ask what does the title of this article have to do with what I am sharing here.

Everyone who gets on a plane knows there is a slight chance of disaster but they get on it anyway.  Come on - 600 mph at 30,000 feet in equipment that was put together by the low bidding company by employees who were overworked, tired, stressed or hated their job?   

Not implying that this is the always the case so if you are in the aircraft manufacturing business please don’t take offense. No, not all of these passengers are future inventors, business founders or creative geniuses but they all put their lives in the hands of the plane and the crew.  They trust.

People who have made significant impact on the world now or in the past had this same trust.  Yes, they knew there was the possibility of failure but they trudged on in spite of the potential for disaster.

“We can dream, fail and still survive.”

Maya Angelou