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The first type of failure stems from just not caring. This seems pretty straightforward, but it’s not always what meets the eye. I recently read a blog about how millennials may not succeed because failure is an option, that we’re not forced to be self-sufficient. Is everyone who moves back home really a selfish wreck who prefers a parasitic life to one of independence? Somehow I doubt this. This broad stereotype is hardly the norm, and you’ll find that those who move home generally fall into two categories. This makes all the difference in the world, that between having a purpose as opposed to taking the easy way out.

Even without becoming a parasite as the example described, it’s easy to fall into the trap of the first type of failure on a less extreme level; I see this type as being complacent. Playing it safe all the time or letting the world happen to you instead of going after what you want is failure. It seems strange, but you don’t actually have to fail at anything to do this, in fact, NOT doing something is the real shame. It hardly fits the typical mold of “failure” but wasting our ideas and potential is pretty sad.

On the flip side, I would argue that what we often label openly as “failing” signals just the opposite. Rarely is it easy to look at the positive elements when we fail by going out on a limb with new ideas (that don’t work) or attempt to be self-sufficient (and we find out we need support) but it’s the fact that we tried that matters. Is the attempt itself good enough? No! However, behind most great ideas are many failed attempts. The key is learning from what went wrong the first time so it doesn’t happen again, and absolutely not giving up. Then you build a much stronger foundation going forward, not to mention a clearer vision of what you need to do in order to find success.

Go ahead, fail miserably. Just make sure you fail forward with a purpose. Instead of falling into complacency, take something of value away from every negative situation (especially if you got yourself there) and it will make you wiser next time around.

One martial arts myth says Thai fighters used to kick banana trees 100 times each day as part of training in order to condition their shins. I’m not sure if this actually happened, but this story and its underlying idea ring true today with clarity of vision.

When it comes to kicking trees, there is no shortcut or easy way out. You either display discipline, putting in the 100 painstaking kicks each day, or you don’t. Likewise, you can’t build that amazing career of your dreams overnight. There are some luck-based success stories out there, but they’re few and far between. Creating and sustaining success takes discipline day in and day out as you work toward your goal. This takes tremendous focus. You have to know what you want because if you don’t have vision what’s the point of kicking that tree every day?

Establish your career vision and go for it, but this is only the start. From there, pick one small thing you can do every day to make progress. It doesn’t have to be the same thing over and over like kicking a tree, but it should be a never-ending advance toward the end result. Whether it’s through reading, networking, blogging, or any other means of career advancement, without fail commit to doing SOMETHING every single day; this is one area in which instant gratification just plain doesn’t happen.

It’s painful at times, and often hard to see progress, but if you remain consistent you’ll get there eventually and soon enough you’ll be kicking bigger and tougher trees.