What Would You Do Anyway Even If You Knew You Would Fail?
You hear all the time the question: What would you do if you knew you could not fail? I think the more powerful question though is:
What would you do anyway even if you knew you would fail?
Why this question? Because if you did something knowing it would fail, but you were motivated to keep going anyway, that would show true love, true admiration, a true commitment to the work. You then aren't in it for the results. You aren't in it for the prestige, the fame, the fortune, the admiration, the praise, or the recognition. You are in it just because you love the work so much.
What's ironic is that in that state, there is no possibilty of you failing because simply being able to do the work is your success.
I once heard Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo Movement, say on stage at one of those prestigious conferences, you have invited me to the Emmy's, Grammies, the Oscars, to all these fancy parties. I know at some point, you'll move on and those invitations will dry up. I'm not doing this work for you. I was doing this work in community centers and church basements long before this and if I need to continue to do that work there, I will again, as I am about the work.
The #MeToo Movement started in 2006 and did not get worldwide recognition until 2017. If Tarana had been doing this work for any other reason besides her believing in this work, it would never have had the impact that it has for billions of people around the world. Maybe she thought at times, it may fail or that no one will really care, but because she was so resolute because she was going to do this work whether it succeeded or not because felt compelled to do this work, that is why it has had the impact that it has had.
So, I ask the question again:
What type of work are you willing to do even if you knew it would fail?
Because when you find out the answer to that, you find out the answer to what makes you come alive. Because that is the type of work the world needs from you right now.
The Tarana Burke detail stuck with me—doing the work in church basements long before the Emmy invitations, and being ready to return there. It makes me ask what I’d keep doing without applause. For me, it’s showing up for local housing meetings even when nothing passes. That persistence comes from the values behind doing the work anyway, not from outcomes. What would I still do if failure was certain?
Reframing the failure question as what you would do anyway is the more interesting version, and it is a better prompt for people who find the original one hollow. The follow-up question about what you would stop doing deserves equal space. Reference to Video can turn a spoken explanation into a short clip that keeps the speaker consistent across takes.
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This was such a fun and honest read! The question about what we would do if we knew we could not fail really makes you stop and think. Most of us spend way too much time worrying about what could go wrong, when sometimes the bigger question is, “What if I just gave it a try?” I also liked the idea of not waiting for the perfect moment because, let’s be real, the perfect moment is usually busy avoiding our phone calls! 😄
It reminded me that this way of thinking can even apply to everyday things at home. If something needs fixing, we often keep saying, “I’ll deal with it tomorrow,” until tomorrow becomes next month. That is where…
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