A weight lifter is taught how to fail.
When a lifter is underneath a heavy barbell and she’s not going to be able to finish the lift, she bails. She gets her body out of the way of the weight that is about to fall, and she knows how to do it safely, for herself and the people who may be around her.
Bailing is the right response to a failed lift. More important, knowing how to bail is a crucial component of weightlifting. The knowledge of how to fail safely is what allows lifters to keep trying, to get stronger.
You can see where I’m going here—how can you fail safely? What can you do in your work and life that allows you to keep trying, keep risking, because you know how to bail when you need to?
