Fail Often
A failure should be a lesson-learned that leads you to something better. An environment that doesn't allow you to fail can become the catalyst that leads you to a better place. The following article from Todd Hampson at Timbuktoons perfectly addresses this.
The week before we went to the KidScreen Summit in NYC, I saw a blog post by brand and marketing guru Seth Godin about Tim Burton's many "failed" attempts before AND in between his green lit projects.
While in NYC, we stayed one block away from MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) where a temporary Tim Burton Exhibit was on display featuring art from his high-school days thru the present. It was amazing to see how many different mediums Tim Burton worked in. There were illustrations, mobiles, sculptures, live action films, animated films, experimental art (including some very strange pieces), and more.
One notable part of the exhibit was a huge wall that had all of his movie concepts listed. Next to each was it's year of release OR a phrase like "never produced." MOST of his projects had that term next to them. "Never Produced."
We should not feel like we have failed when we have that stamp on one of our projects or ideas. "Never Produced" now means to me "Never Giving Up" and "Learning and Preparing for the Next Step."
I recently noticed this verse: "until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character" (Psalm 105:19).
Joseph's dreams were God-given, not self-driven. He faced delay after delay, trial after trial, but continued to trust God and the dream God had given him so many years earlier. God was forging Joe's character in preparation for the fulfillment of the dream.
I could point to many "failures" at Timbuktoons that prepared us for something bigger. Our goal should be "to attempt great things" (for God's glory), not "to have 100% success." A real adventure is not complete with out some scratches and bruises along the way. No story is compelling without the scene where hope is almost lost.
So today, in these tough times when many dreams seem to have died, trust that God is working in you while He prepares circumstances around you. God does not lie. He is a covenant keeping God. Never give up, even if you "fail often!"
Is Your Church This Focused?
From a recent blog post by Seth Godin:
Tim Cook at Apple: “This is the most focused company I know of, am aware of, or have any knowledge of... We say no to good ideas every day.” Cook then pointed out to analysts that every single product the company makes would fit on the single conference table in front of him. “And we had revenue last year of $40 billion."
What an amazing principle for churches! We get so caught up in providing every single program that members expect us to provide, that we wind up being great at very little, or even nothing. Apple has chosen to focus on just a few simple products that they have become the best at, and their bottom line proves the effectiveness of their focus. Churches should learn the lesson and cut some of the fat that keeps them from doing their best at their primary mission.
What programs and activities can your church cut that would enable you to be more focused on what matters most?