What Entrepreneurs Can Learn About Failure from the Executive Director of W.TEC

What does failure mean to you? 

Failure would definitely be the opposite of success. Success to me means living with joy and contentment. It also means doing great things with the talent and skills that God has given me, and stretching myself beyond the limits of what I think I can do. It certainly does not mean doing everything well, but at least making a good attempt and learning when things do not go as well as I would like.

Failure would thereby mean not using my skills and gifts. Not pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Not daring to try new things.

What metrics or methodologies have you used to define your success and/or failure?

I constantly set new goals for myself (with respect to Work, Faith, Personal Life, Health) and monitor how I achieve these goals. It is important that I:

• Try new things: Most of my successes has involved pushing myself out of my comfort zone and being in ‘uncomfortable’ positions.
• Achieve at least 70% of my expected result. If I do not, then I need to have some lessons learnt on what to do differently next time.
• Have peace of mind: Success for me, is achieving my expected results at all costs. I need to be able to live with my decisions.
• Help other people: Success is not just about me, but about how my journey helps other people.

A feeling of balance: This is especially important to me as a woman because we have certain home and nurturing expectations in addition to any career responsibilities. I know that I will not lead a balanced life everyday. Some days will be more focused on work, while others will be more focused on family. However, when I take a look at my life over a period of years or even over the course of my life, I want to feel that I was able to devote as much time as I wanted to building my career and spent with my family.

 

About W.TEC: founded by Oreoluwa Somolu-Lesi, WTEC, which stands for Women’s Technology Empowerment Center is a non-profit organization working to encourage Nigerian girls to use technology to empower themselves socially and economically. Well known for its technology camp, the organization prides itself in introducing young girls to technology and helping to develop their bright minds.