When Failure is a Gift

I wanted, for many many years, to be a mystery writer. Finally I wrote a mystery novel. I got a best-selling novelist to be my mentor and help me with the rewrite. I got an agent. They sent the book out. And sent it out. And sent it out. And it went nowhere.

I tried writing another book, and my mentor told me to dump it and start a third book. I did, but couldn't get into the idea and the book never materialized.

Which is all okay, because today I'm a life coach, something I've wanted to do for a long time and which allows me time to write if I want to, and I never would have gotten here if that book had been published.

You see, I can write part-time while I coach as a profession, but if that first book had been published, I would have seen myself as a mystery writer and nothing else. That's the mindset I had at the time-"I'm going to be a mystery writer full-time."

Now, having failed at something important to me, I realize that I don't have to do only one thing. I don't even have to do anything for the rest of my life. I may coach for five years and say, "I'm done."

What my failure as a mystery writer taught me is that I have choices about what I do, and I'm never locked into any one thing. That was a gift I could never pay for or find anywhere else.

About The Author

Angie Dixon helps small business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how coaching can change your life, contact Angie at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.

You are free to use this article in ezines, web sites and print publications. If you do use it, please send a quick email to mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com. Thank you.

---

Thoughts Are Like Seeds - Are You Planting Flowers or Weeds?

"You can't harvest what you don't sow. So plant your... Read More

7 Keys for Joyful Living!

Here are some thoughts for finding and experiencing joy in... Read More

I Hate My Computer and Other Inspirational Thoughts

The New Year has not started out very well for... Read More

Do You Pay For Services Out of Obligation or Appreciation?

Have you ever paid for services rendered with a strong... Read More

Life lessons - An Inpirational Story

Ju was physically abused as a child. She lived with... Read More

Do You Feel Headed For Shipwreck?

The ocean liner Achille Lauro sailed perpetually under a dark... Read More

Letting Go Of Perfection

"The power of discovery enables us to achieve excellence without... Read More

Today is Yesterdays Tomorrow

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it... Read More

Aftermath of a Child?s Near Death Experience

An 18 month-old girl lay dying of diphtheria in January... Read More

Surefire Ways to Develop a Thankful Attitude

Spend some time thinking about how good you have it.... Read More

Are We Ever Really Alone?

A new twist on a familiar quote - Chances are... Read More

Inside Secrets On How To Stay Afloat During Tough Times

Do you find yourself asking questions when tough times come... Read More

Lock In Your Legacy

You, my friend, are going to die.What? What kind of... Read More

Keeping Faith

Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 30,... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt...Part 2

continued.....Then onto my teen years. My mom had a few... Read More

Taking the Leap of Faith

So often we stop and look at our lives and... Read More

A Dream is Just a Dream ... Or is It?

Some people dismiss dreams as nonsense, thought patterns running amuck... Read More

My Journey

I believe it's important for you to develop a mission... Read More

Revenge in the End is Bitter Sweet

We ALL think or have thought about it at one... Read More

Israel Is My Son

"And thou shalt say unto Pharoah, Thus saith the Lord,... Read More

Time for Sunshine

Having spring around makes you feel different after such a... Read More

Eight Choices You Can Make Today that Will Change Your Life Forever

The direction of our lives is determined by the choices... Read More

Dont Die With Your Dreams Still Inside You

I write and talk a lot about dreams. Primarily because... Read More

Living Profoundly

When you realize that you really want to have an... Read More

An Unquenched Thirst

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 9,... Read More

5 Tips To Add More Spice To Your Life

1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before.... Read More

Lifes Purpose

To every life, there is a purpose; a purpose of... Read More

A Key In Hand Is Worth A Thousand On My Desk

A key fault I have, and I can only talk... Read More

Ctrl-Alt-Delete Your Life

Ah, the good old "Vulcan nerve pinch", the three-fingered salute,... Read More

The Ant Philosophy

Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple... Read More

Reclaiming Our Resilient Spirit

Our spirits are taking a beating. The daily barrage of... Read More

Its Not My Job to Free Tibet

I hate saying that. It feels so very wrong. It's... Read More

Create Your Own Self Esteem - Part 2

The good part of this story is that there is... Read More