Most people have a list of life goals that include the phrase “to be successful at …” However, failures are an inevitable part of life; a part that cannot be avoided, and people must learn to plan for setbacks as well as working for triumphs. Although failures cannot be avoided, the chances of failing at specific tasks can be reduced through various strategies, including persistence, planning, and problem-solving.

Persistence

In order to be successful at anything, people need to understand that failure must not stop them from trying repeatedly. For example, if an individual has set a goal of learning to type, they must understand that the goal cannot be achieved in a single day or even two. Rather, persistent practice and the desire to succeed will allow the individual to master the required typing techniques, and in a short span of time.

Planning

Furthermore, in order to succeed, it’s important to always design a contingency plan so that the next best alternative can be adopted with relative ease if the initial plan is not successful. For example, if someone plans to give a speech to a large audience, they need to be aware that there’s a good chance that there will be a momentary distraction during the speech that can result in the that person forgetting where they are in the speech. This will require a contingency plan, not to prevent the distraction, but to compensate for it. It’s useful to have a short quote or phrase relevant to the speech, or a brief outline on a piece of paper, ready for referral if the speech is forgotten midway through. Moreover, chances of failure can be reduced by practicing the speech repeatedly before the big day in front of friends and family. This will ensure that the speech is delivered perfectly in spite of distractions.

Some might consider this kind of thinking as “planning to fail.” On the contrary, it’s planning to succeed. This strategy simply means that you go through the various possible outcomes (including failure) and work out how you will respond to each before the fact. Learning how to re-start a speech midway through is one such strategy, but there are many others.

Problem-Solving

An individual that aspires to be successful in everything and anything must be prepared to deal with all of the various scenarios that can arise during the actual execution of the plan. This does not only require contingency plans and practice, but rather also requires the confidence that success can be achieved despite the odds. It is important to believe that you are capable of carrying out a task, regardless of the many distractions or things that could go wrong, instead of thinking you cannot do it without even trying.

Having confidence in your ability and devising strategies beforehand can allow you to succeed at virtually any task that comes your way. It’s possible to do anything very well, from typing really fast to giving a speech without any anxiety, if you plan and practice for it.

Just take the time and figure out your plan of action before you start. You can be successful at anything you want, as long as you have planned in advance, and have also “planned to fail,” so don’t think that anything is out of reach for you. It’s possible to do anything we set our minds to – anything at all.