Occasionally, members of the site fail the exam. Their and

our own reactions can teach us a lot. But what have you

truly lost if you do fail?

I have failed at quite a few things in my life.

Failed my police entrance exam first time

Failed my CCNA

Failed my police promotion exam

Failed my CCIE lab

Failed my first driving test

Failed at my first marriage

Failed with my third company

But looking back, I learned a lot and to be honest I am

a far better person for my failures.

'Success is a poor teacher' Robert Kiyosaki.

We are programmed at school that failure is bad. We are

punished with poor grades, detentions, social stigma and

so on. This system is designed to train us all to be

happy little workers. To be trained to confirm, do what

we are told and like it.

If you are failing at something then you are learning. If

you stop learning you might as well give up on life.

I'm glad I failed at all the above things. It helped me

either redouble my efforts or realize that I didn't really

want it after all. I have no interest in becoming a CCIE at

all. It doesn't fit in with my life goals.

When I see a comment on the forum saying 'I've wasted my

money, I failed the exam today. What a waste.' I think

that is the wrong way to look at it.

If I fail anything I keep it to myself, I don't want to

engage in a pity party. If I need some tips on how to

pass next time then I will ask for those instead.

If you fail your exam you have learned about your weak

areas. Better in the exam than on live network. You have

learned that your hands on speed needs work. You have

learned about stress and anxiety and that you need to

learn some relaxation techniques.

The Japanese have a saying 'Fall down seven times, stand

up eight.' If you keep going towards your goals then you

are successful. If you quit then you are a failure.

Our dual CCIE Farai Tafa failed his CCNA five times. That

must be some sort of record. Now he walks into the network

at Cadburys or Pepsi and everyone stands back and watches.

If you fail get over it. Learn what needs to be learned

and carry on.

Paul Browning

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