Alright, folks, buckle up. We’re about to take a trip down memory lane, and it’s not always pretty. But let me tell you, some of the best lessons I’ve learned came from my biggest failures. Here are five that stand out:
- Success is temporary, character is permanent: When Heads Up Inc. was soaring, I thought I was invincible. Then the market crashed. I learned that what truly matters isn’t your success, but how you handle failure.
- God’s plan is better than yours: The Sextant restaurant seemed like a great idea at the time. Its failure led me back to my family and ultimately to ministry. Sometimes, our “failures” are God’s redirections.
- Humility is your best friend: Nothing humbles you quite like losing everything you’ve worked for. But humility is the fertile ground where God can really work in your life.
- Your identity isn’t in what you do: Losing my businesses forced me to confront who I was without my titles and achievements. It’s a tough lesson, but a crucial one.
- Failure isn’t final: Each time I failed, I thought it was the end. But God always had a new beginning waiting. Failure is just a stepping stone to where God wants you to be.
These lessons weren’t easy to learn, let me tell you. But they’ve shaped me into who I am today. They’ve made me a better leader, a better mentor, and hopefully, a better ambassador for Christ.
So, if you’re in the midst of failure right now, take heart. God isn’t finished with you yet. In fact, He might just be setting you up for your greatest success – not by the world’s standards, but by His.