Over the weekend, Phil Mickelson became the oldest golfer to ever win a major PGA Championship at the ripe old age of 50. There's no doubt that he's one of the greatest golfers of all time. I believe success leaves clues. So what was Phil able to do that other didn't?
The answer is simple: Phil was able to pull from his years of experience.
People tend to put a lot of focus and emphasis on successes and achieving goals, yet we dismiss or downplay failures. But the fact is, when we fall short, THAT is where the magic happens. Failure is where the learning and growth comes from.
Greatness is achieved from evaluating where we went wrong and how we could've done it better.
Whatever you hope to achieve in your personal or professional life, don't kick yourself over a failed opportunity. Shoot your shot and if the outcome isn't what you hoped it would be, study it. Learn from it.
Luck is the intersection of preparation and opportunity. When you have another chance a failure can help you be all the more ready, even if it comes later in life.
Fail, study, learn, grow, and succeed!