Mastery: Success is Just One Step Beyond Failure

Issue No. 8 | February 20th, 2023 | Read Time: 2 Minutes

Happy Monday Everyone!

There comes a point in our lives where we consider failure as the only outcome. That we aren't destined for success and if it was to happen it would've happened already. 

And so we begin to consider backing out because it seems to be the only viable option. Failure is a choice we can make at any moment while success is something we have to continuously strive for, so no wonder most people resort to failure because it's simply easier. 

But understand that success has been typically found just one step beyond failure. That even in the most darkest moments of our lives, we are only minutes away from seeing the light of dawn. 

James Lee Burke is currently a New York Times bestselling author as well as being awarded the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. 

This sounds like a man who's been writing his entire life, when in all actuality he struggled more than what most people would deem to be normal. 

After writing his book

The Lost Get-Back Boogie

, he went to 111 publishing companies to only get rejected by each one eventually to find a publisher on his 112th try by Louisiana State University Press. Looking back on it, Burke has said

"when you get thoroughly rejected, you realize you do it for the love of the work."

Learn to love your work, because it's the excitement that will allow you to persist despite the thought of failing. And with every time Burke was rejected, he simply moved onto the next publisher with the knowledge that someone has to say yes eventually. All he had to do was find them no matter how long it took.

Try to have this same mentality where you're always taking one more step with the belief that it might be your last. 

Sometimes the smallest event can lead to the greatest outcome, so never stop pushing because success is bound to happen for those who keep climbing. 

Until next time,

Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I'm Currently Reading -

I'm now reading

The Wim Hof Method

by Wim Hof, a book on mastering cold exposure and your mind. 

• If you'd like to see my notes pertaining to any other books I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.

Quote Of The Week

• "If you aren't going all the way, why go at all?" — Joe Namath