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