Befriending Failure
Once you have the framework for realizing what
dreams to pursue and the game plan to start working
toward your aspirations, you, my friend, are ready to
start chasing failure. And in the process, you’ll find
successes, you’ll find innovations, you’ll find fulfillment,
you’ll find challenges. You’ll find friendships.
And you’ll find your dreams evolving.
My dream to join the NBA shifted. And while I
still play basketball and have come closer to beating my
friend who used to be in the NBA, I began to set my
sights on other dreams as I grew and realized my purpose
on earth could be better fulfilled by speaking to
people. My dreams now include inspiring people to live
their best lives and to go after their dreams, helping
companies win in a way that doesn’t sacrifice relationships
but instead builds them up, being the best husband
to my amazing wife, and making sure I’m the world’s
best dad to my kiddos. I fail at these things every day.
But in setting my standards as high as possible and, in
doing so, setting myself up to chase failure, I am living
the most fulfilling, interesting, and dream-realizing
life I could have ever imagined for myself.
Instead of playing in the NBA, I now have the privilege
of working with NBA players and executives. One
day, I was in the middle of a chapel service for a few
NBA players via Zoom while they were in their bubble
season, and my son came in wanting my attention.
Instead of ignoring my son, I decided to invite him
into the moment. I said, “Hey, buddy, why don’t you
come over here and meet some of my friends?” He was
initially shy and hesitant to come over. So I said, “Hey,
you know, they are actually about to play on television
in like twenty minutes.” His eyes opened wide and he
got so excited. It was a cool moment for me to realize
I’m still living the dream.
I never thought that chasing failure would bring me
where I am today. Running up and down that court in
Phoenix, I never could have imagined it would turn into
all this. To be able to come alongside NBA players now,
long past my ability to play professional basketball, is
really cool for my son to see. I can make a difference in
the lives of people on or off the court. And I love that I
am able to set an example of chasing failure for my son.
I not only tell my son to go after whatever he
dreams of doing, whether he decides he wants to be an
astronaut, or a firefighter, or Black Panther; I am also
living by example. I don’t want my son to be afraid
of failure. I want him to chase after it, knowing that
when he takes action to go after his dreams, failure is
an inevitable part of getting closer to those dreams.
Your dreams are worth chasing. And yes, you will
experience failure along the way, but that has to stop
being a deal breaker. Stop failing by default. Chase it
down, look failure in the eye, greet it if you are feeling
friendly, and befriend it. You’ll be hanging out with
him a lot as you chase your dreams. Let failure remind
you that you are getting closer and closer every day to
achieving what you once thought was impossible. Find
your sweet spot, figure out your game plan, and go
after your dreams.
So one more time, I must ask you:
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
I certainly hope the world finds out.
5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .
Taken from “Chasing Failure” by Ryan Leak. Copyright 2021 by Ryan Leak.
Used with permission from Thomas Nelson.
Title: The Paramedic's Forever Family 
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