By Jennifer McShane
15th Nov 2016
15th Nov 2016
during the third U.S. presidential debate at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight is the final debate ahead of Election Day on November 8.
Failure. In the last seven days, it’s a word that’s been synonymous with the US election?and a remarkable woman who tried to break the hardest glass ceiling but alas, did not succeed – it cracked, but it didn’t shatter. While many a media outlet was quick to point out that yes, Hillary Clinton failed the task at hand in that she didn’t grace the podium as the first-ever female president of the United States, what she’did do (and what was spoken of to a lesser extent), was inspire millions of young women to attempt to do the same thing. No, not fail. Try. Work. Break boundaries’regardless of age; regardless of gender, regardless of a grossly unfair pay gap. “Never give up, and never think that the fight wasn’t worth it,” the admirable, eloquent words of a strong businesswoman, spokesperson, and advocate; a ?woman so hurt in defeat, but so full of hope. Clinton didn’t succeed?this time, but in this failure, she graciously gave us the inspiration to take away from it: keep on going. “I didn’t shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling, but someday, someone will.” That someone could be any one of us the next time we hit a wall. Few of us reach success without failure, and it’s how we deal with it that will invariably determine the path we walk down – both in business and in life.
We asked some of those nominated in the Creatives category of the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards?- buy your tickets HERE – how they have dealt with failure on their career journeys so far:?
Failure should be viewed as an opportunity to review what you are doing.?If you challenge your approach then within the word challenge, you will find?change. Margaret O’Rourke, Director, owner,?MoMuse
Failure can be a daunting and lonely place. Particularly as an Interior Designer, your work is out there in the public arena for praise, but also for criticism. I did find it hard initially but what I’ve learned is that I am probably my worst critic. Also, you cannot progress in business without some form of failure or things not working out as you would have hoped. What I push myself to do is not to let this fill my thoughts with self-doubt and take each failure as a learning curve. It is much better to fail and grow as a businesswoman then fail and give up. ?Suzie McAdams, Owner, Suzie McAdams Design
Failure is not easy for anyone to deal with, I tend to take things quite personally which doesn’t help! But to succeed one needs to push past problems and failings – and pick yourself up and move on, however hard it is! I think it is best to try to limit the reasons for failure with careful planning and preparation of the elements we can control, there are others that are out of our control, and it is important to take these into consideration when planning but not worry about them as there is nothing we can actually do – e.g. Economic situation at any one time/currency rates. Charlotte Temple, Design and Retail Director, Magee 1866
I firmly believe that we cannot learn and move forward without failure. Experiencing problems and learning how to deal with them is an integral part of running a successful business. Problems occur, and we must deal with them calmly and efficiently without allowing stress to take over. I, of course, have learned this the hard way. You must look and move forward and take the learnings from it and perhaps deal with it in a more effective way the next time. Joeanne?Caffrey, Director, Owner, Joeanna Caffrey Flowers
Like many other small companies we’ve had some difficult times during the recession. In September 2008 we opened our first concession in House of Fraser in Dundrum. It was the week the banks went bust, and we had signed a minimum yearly guarantee before the recession hit. At the time we were making larger, more expensive gemstone designs which meant that we had to reconsider our designs and adapt to make lighter gemstone pieces that were more affordable and accessible to the market without losing Juvi’s unique identity. We (my husband Vincent and I) never gave up and worked so hard to hit the targets including working in House of Fraser ourselves to cut costs. Thankfully we now have an amazing team of staff who have been with us a long time and who?know the brand inside out. Julie Danz, Creative Director and Partner, Juvi Designs
If you experience failure, after the initial hurt, you have to re-group to question, to learn and make changes to be able to raise and succeed the next time. Virginie Vuillaume, Managing Director, Virginie Claire Beauty Products
I try not to use the word failure. I always look at any experience or outcome as a learning process. I analyse what I could have done better and be sure to implement this to my next project. I am a perfectionist, so set high standards and targets for myself and my team in every project. All journeys have bumps in the road, that’s part of the adventure. Fiona Heaney, Creative Director, Fee G Ltd
I don’t think there is such thing as failure. Anytime things haven’t gone the way they were planned I truly believe it all happens for a reason. And most of all, I think there is always something to be learned, and I try my best to grow as a person from any setbacks I encounter. Ella DeGuzman, CEO,?Siopella
Everyone fails at some point, just pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes and move on.? Life is too short for regrets, and I firmly believe everything happens for a reason.? I’ve had many business disappointments over the years but looking back usually things work out for the better in the long run. Susan Broe, Producer, Co-Founder,?Wiggleywoo Ltd
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