The word
failure has such negative connotations. But really, failure is usually just a success that you didn't expect. Or, perhaps, it's a success you did expect, but didn't want to admit you expected... :-)
Like Wolfgang said, falling isn't a failure when learning to ski, or walk. Falling is a success in that your body does what it's supposed to do when confronted with realities like gravity and imbalance. A successful fall gives your body the information it needs to work
with gravity and balance so that in the future you can ski, or walk, more effectively. So, another way to think about "failure" is that it's successful data collection.
And, speaking of data, I like to picture Commander Data, of Star Trek, saying, "Interesting..." and cocking his head like an inquisitive dog, when something doesn't go as planned. But then again I'm a geek, so maybe that won't work for everyone :-)
I also like the quote that was up on the wall on the PBS show
Design Squad, "Fail fast - succeed sooner" which goes really well with the less vegetarian saying of "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." It makes more sense to invest small amounts of resources in a variety of small plans, at least until one or more of them stand out as more solid investments.
Peace, Love, and Bicycles,
Turtle
P.S.
What are you afraid of?