If Failure is Not an Option......

Some of the clichés with which we try to motivate others (and ourselves) are downright lame. If “failure is not an option,” then neither is success. An option is selectable. If failure is not an option, you cannot select it. You then default to success, so success is no longer an option either.

There are other moronic platitudes. How about “Only the good die young”? Is that because people only get to be such SOBs in their old age? It takes time to develop evil? And then there’s “Good things come to those who wait.” …..so why not procrastinate? The fact is that sometimes if you don’t act now, you’ll react later.  There! I just composed a new one.

And there’s this piece of wisdom: “It is what it is.”  No kidding!  Or how about “Follow your bliss”?  Maybe mine is heroin. Maybe we should lead our bliss.  And here’s one that fosters failure: “Go with the flow.” No need to lead. No reason why you should make a positive difference. Just be a dead fish and go with the flow. Especially "if failure is not an option."

Things not going well? Then “just think about how much worse other people have it.” Yeah. It should cheer you up to dwell on other people’s misery.