Failure is the flip side of success. In many instances it looks like there is 50 50 chance of success or failure. Yet we do not embrace failure. The organization that I am running is a result of failure. If I had not left my previous employer or rather had my previous employer not suggested termination of my contract SIVIO Institute wouldn’t exist. So I am grateful that I had to leave the old to experience the new.
I have failed many times since especially in assembling a functional team. I tend to over trust and am very sympathetic- so at times I don’t let go of colleagues even when it’s obvious that they are not up to the task. I keep on thinking that maybe one day they will get it.

I am also an extroverted introvert so struggle to attend networking events. I have been told several times that my success will depend on how I effectively network. It’s draining- well for me. But I have learnt a number of ways around it. I am happy to connect via technology and have embraced new communities be they on Facebook or LinkedIn. In fact I embrace social media as a new and novel way of networking.

At times the failures have only challenged me to try again. We tried several times to unlock funding from a number of institutions. We didn’t give up. We kept on scheduling meetings and updating them on what we were up to. One of our current donors took exactly four years to fund us after several proposals that were turned down. Failure is a fuel to keep us on our feet. Imagine if we had succeeded on Day One. Would we value what we have achieved? I suspect complacency or pride could have set it.