PerforMind – Managing Failure

PerforMind (Performance + Mind) is a podcast series about terms and performance in business and in sport.

Today, I want to talk briefly about failure and how we cope with it. Recently, I challenged myself with a rowing program: a warm-up followed by two 2000-meter efforts on the indoor rowing machine. I knew my target should be around 2 minutes per 500 meters, or about 8 minutes per effort, with a 4-minute recovery between. After warming up, I set off, and though my first attempt was just outside my target, I pushed through. It was tough, but I got it done, and I felt satisfied.

The second effort was different. After 500 meters, my legs felt empty, my lungs were burning, and I was really struggling. I paused briefly, took a breath, and tried again. But just a few hundred meters in, I realized I couldn't push through. Frustrated and empty, I almost walked away. But instead, I chose to finish—slowly. I was way off my target, but I completed the distance, knowing something wasn’t right with my body, perhaps fatigue or illness. It was a clear reminder: it’s important to recalibrate, take time to recover, but not give up entirely. Adjust your pace if you need to, but keep moving forward.

Key Lessons:
- Failure is part of the process; it’s how you respond that counts.
- It’s okay to recalibrate when things aren’t going right.
- Rest and recovery are essential; pushing through blindly can lead to more harm.
- Adjust your pace, but don’t quit. Progress, no matter how slow, is still progress.

#Resilience #Performance #Recovery #KeepGoing #MentalToughness #ProgressNotPerfection #Endurance

Tim Rogers
Consultant/ Project Manager
[email protected]
Phone 07797762051

MBA Management Consultant | Prince2 Project Manager, Agile Scrum Master | AMPG Change Practitioner | BeTheBusiness Mentor | ICF Trained Coach | Mediation Practitioner | 4 x GB Gold Medalist | First Aid for Mental Health | Certificate in Applied Therapeutic Skills