Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail

Failing your test can be a tough pill to swallow. Most of us are hardwired to judge our success and ‘winning’ based on whether or not we achieved the result we set out to achieve. Once you begin to judge your result based on your effort, rather than your results, you will never fail again.

We live in a society driven by results. Results are in our faces all the time. Be it in your exams, your uni application, or your job or even in your family. Being relentless about staying focused on your effort instead of your results is incredibly difficult, but achievable—and necessary for high levels of success.

It’s normal to beat yourself up and get down on yourself when you are not achieving what you set out to do, especially if you fail your driving test.

Next time you are looking failure in the face, force yourself to answer two questions:

1. On a scale of 1-10, how much effort did I put into preparing?

2. What is one thing I could improve with my preparation?

Directing your focus to what you can do differently in the future to better prepare is so much more efficient than beating yourself up for your loss. Doing so will so much more prepare you to never lose again.

Your driving instructor will always ensure you have the skills and ability to pass the driving test. But on the day, it’s down to YOU. Therefore, adequate preparation is vital to your success, mentally, emotionally and physically.

So remember and apply the four key skills to achieve success when driving. Do so, and you will pass your test

• Effective observation

• Good planning

• Awareness of what you are doing and also those around you

• Good judgment