Tag: Failing Forward

When You Fall, Get Back Up

The elk that chased me.
Photo Courtesy of Doug Dickerson

It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up – Vince Lombardi

Recently, my wife and I went up to the Smoky Mountains for a long weekend. It’s something we do each October around my birthday. It’s a great time to take in the Fall colors and reconnect with nature. We both enjoy being outdoors, hiking to waterfalls, and exploring nature. 

As a photographer, I also use the time to update my portfolio with new pictures. I had scouted out a place where large herds of elk gather each morning and evening to graze in a meadow. It was a perfect spot, and I was ready for the experience.

I had great success on my first outing and decided to return the next morning at sunrise to shoot from a different part of the field. Sure enough, a large gathering of elk dutifully arrived for their morning graze. I had a great angle on a large bull elk, and as I stood at a fence capturing some fantastic shots, it was all going well, until it wasn’t. 

This large bull elk decided I was too close and came walking toward me. I kept taking pictures. He kept making that noise to inform me that I wasn’t welcome. His walk now became a trot, and he began to come at me with a higher degree of frustration. It was now time for me to listen and, more importantly, get moving. He was coming at me.

I did the only sensible thing I could in the moment – run! As I took off in the wet grass, it didn’t take me long to trip and face-plant on the ground.  My only concern in the moment was whether or not the elk had decided I was worth the trouble of stepping over the fence and continuing the pursuit, or if he was content enough to get a good laugh at me, all sprawled out of the ground, a muddy mess. Thankfully for me, he chose the latter. 

With my pride hurt, I got myself up, brushed off the grass and mud I was covered in, gathered my gear, and decided that a safer distance was now in order. After all, I did have a long lens on the camera, so I may as well use it.

The experience wasn’t lost on me from a leadership perspective, and perhaps there’s something in the story for you as well. Here are two of my takeaways.

Ignore warning signs at your own peril

Be it physical warning signs or the loud bulge of the elk, you and I ignore warning signs at our own peril.

In your leadership, you have warning signs to watch for as well. For instance, how’s your workplace culture? What signs are you ignoring that things may not be as healthy as they should be? What actions do you need to take? If we are missing the obvious cues around us, we put ourselves and others in jeopardy. 

Get back up when you fall

Every leader I know has, at one time or another, fallen. It’s going to happen. It may be the result of your actions and decisions, or some other circumstance. As leaders, we must learn how to fail and fall forward. It’s what will set you apart as a leader.

John Maxwell said, “God uses people who fail- ‘cause there aren’t any other kind around.” And this is the challenge we all share as leaders. Will we use the experience of falling or failure to move us forward, or will it be the place where our dreams die? It’s our choice. And my choice—and hopefully yours—is to fail forward. Get up, and keep going.

Winston Churchill exclaimed, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” Embrace courage today and know that many great successes await you once you get back up.

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson

Leadership Lessons From The G.O.A.T.

Credit: Google Images

Losing is no disgrace if you’ve given your best. – Jim Palmer

The Cinderella ending of Tom Brady’s playoff run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is not the one he wanted. But with class, he played the hand he was dealt. Will he retire from the game? By the time you read this, we may have our answer.

My intention here is not to stroll down memory lane detailing all of the highlights of his remarkable career. There’s not enough time or space here to do that. His accomplishments speak for themselves.

Any player can give glowing remarks after an incredible come from behind win or other such accomplishment and look good. But how you handle the disappointment of a loss is more revealing. 

After the defeat of the Buccaneers to the Rams in the recent playoff game, Brady took to his Instagram page to comment about the loss. In doing so, he gives us a few lessons in leadership that transcend the game. 

Allow me to break down those leadership lessons taken from his post. I believe these lessons can benefit any leader regardless of your profession.

Gratitude

“…but this week, all that is on my mind is the gratitude I have for this team and the fans that have supported us…”

In this statement, Tom Brady brings to the forefront a leadership characteristic all can emulate. When you lead from a heart of gratitude it speaks volumes about your character. The lesson here is simple but profound – no one does it alone.

Brady rightfully acknowledges his teammates and fans for their support. He acknowledges that when everyone comes together and works hard then great things can happen. A heart of gratitude and humility is refreshing coming from a player the caliber of Brady especially after a loss. 

Hard work pays off

“This year has been incredibly rewarding personally and professionally and I am appreciative of everyone who worked their ass off to help our team achieve so much.”

Simply put, Brady is acknowledging the obvious – hard work pays off. When everyone is invested and willing to work hard and make the sacrifices to achieve great results, it’s a humbling experience. Even though the season ended sooner than he and the rest of the team would have liked, he acknowledged everyone’s efforts and did not blame anyone for the loss. It was a total team effort that was characterized by hard work and determination. 

Hard work and self-discipline have always been hallmarks of Brady’s career, even in the offseason. When a leader or athlete like Brady is the one who sets the bar, it lifts everyone to a higher standard and he gives credit where it’s due. 

Keep everything in proper perspective

“ I always want to win., I think that’s pretty apparent by now, but that doesn’t mean I equate losing to failure, especially when you go out fighting the way we did.”

Brady’s quote here is leadership gold. When you understand that losing one game does not equal failure it’s a game-changer.

In his book, Failing Foward, John Maxwell writes, “ The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.” Brady’s ability to see in this light indicates that he clearly understands the difference.

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Final Thoughts

Tom Brady demonstrated that winning is not characterized by the final score of a game. He showed that some things are more important – like living with gratitude, working hard, and keeping everything in proper perspective. 

 

©2022 Doug Dickerson