"I Have Not Failed. I've Just Found 10,000 Ways That Won't Work."

01/28/25 • 10 min

In the third episode of this special four-part WORD MATTER series on FOCUS, Deanna Ley, The Catalytic Coach, redefines failure as a stepping stone to growth with Thomas Edison’s quote: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

Deanna explores how shifting our perspective on failure allows us to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and progress. With relatable examples, actionable strategies, and insights into how our brains adapt and grow, this episode will empower you to celebrate the twists and turns of life’s journey and embrace the lessons within each challenge.

What Listeners Will Learn:

How to reframe failure as feedback and celebrate its role in progress
Why resilience is strengthened every time you focus on a win
How to use “bankable wins” to build confidence and move past setbacks
The neuroscience behind failure and the power of neuroplasticity
Practical steps to embrace failure, pivot, and keep moving forward

Memorable Quotes:

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” – Thomas Edison
“Failure is not a permanent stop; it’s a nudge, a redirection, a chance to grow.”
“Knowledge may open the door, but applying the knowledge is what moves you forward.”
“Celebrate that feedback—it’s getting you one step closer to what you want for yourself.”
“Your bankable wins are proof of your resilience.”
“When you focus on growth, resilience, and your bankable wins, you create a life filled with momentum and possibility and fun.”

This episode inspires listeners to embrace failure as an essential part of the journey, to reframe challenges as opportunities, and to find joy and power in each twist and turn of life’s maze.

Your WORDS MATTER because YOU MATTER.

❤️❤️❤️

Text Deanna! She'd love to hear from you!

Support the show

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What Listeners Will Learn:

How to reframe failure as feedback and celebrate its role in progress
Why resilience is strengthened every time you focus on a win
How to use “bankable wins” to build confidence and move past setbacks
The neuroscience behind failure and the power of neuroplasticity
Practical steps to embrace failure, pivot, and keep moving forward

Memorable Quotes:

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” – Thomas Edison
“Failure is not a permanent stop; it’s a nudge, a redirection, a chance to grow.”
“Knowledge may open the door, but applying the knowledge is what moves you forward.”
“Celebrate that feedback—it’s getting you one step closer to what you want for yourself.”
“Your bankable wins are proof of your resilience.”
“When you focus on growth, resilience, and your bankable wins, you create a life filled with momentum and possibility and fun.”

This episode inspires listeners to embrace failure as an essential part of the journey, to reframe challenges as opportunities, and to find joy and power in each twist and turn of life’s maze.

Your WORDS MATTER because YOU MATTER.

❤️❤️❤️

Text Deanna! She'd love to hear from you!

Support the show

Previous Episode

"Where Focus Goes, Energy Flows."

In the second episode of a special four-part WORD MATTER series on FOCUS, Deanna Ley, The Catalytic Coach, unpacks Tony Robbins' transformative quote: "Where focus goes, energy flows."

Deanna explores how what we focus on expands and how our energy follows the direction of our attention. Through relatable examples, neuroscience insights, and practical tools, she teaches how to reframe your mindset from lack to abundance and shift your perspective to celebrate progress and gratitude. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you create momentum, embrace abundance, and experience the joy of focusing on what truly matters.

What Listeners Will Learn:

How the Reticular Activating System (RAS) impacts your focus and experience
Why reframing "HAVE TO" tasks as "GET TO" shifts your mindset
The role gratitude plays in rewiring your brain for positivity and growth
How small shifts in focus create powerful changes in energy and outcomes
Practical tools to align your focus with abundance, progress, and possibility

Memorable Quotes:

"Where focus goes, energy flows." – Tony Robbins
"What you focus on and how you focus matters, too."
"I’m not losing anything; I’m gaining everything."
"I’m not missing out on anything; I’m gifting myself everything."
"Gratitude turns what you have into enough."
"When you change your focus, you change your experience."

This episode inspires listeners to shift their mindset, embrace gratitude, and focus on abundance to create a life filled with joy, connection, and growth.

Your WORDS MATTER because YOU MATTER.

❤️❤️❤️

Text Deanna! She'd love to hear from you!

Support the show

Next Episode

"Happiness Is A Journey, Not A Destination."

In the final episode of this special four-part WORDS MATTER series on FOCUS, Deanna Ley, The Catalytic Coach, explores the powerful distinction between happiness and joy. With the widely embraced quote, “Happiness is a journey, not a destination,” she challenges the traditional mindset of chasing happiness through external achievements and instead encourages listeners to cultivate joy as a daily practice.

Deanna breaks down why happiness is fleeting, how joy remains unshakable, and why both can exist simultaneously—even in life’s hardest moments. She shares practical tools to shift focus, redefine success, and find fulfillment in the process rather than waiting for a finish line.

What Listeners Will Learn:

The difference between happiness and joy—and why it matters
How external achievements can’t create lasting fulfillment
Why joy is always present, even in life’s storms
How gratitude and mindset shifts wire the brain to seek joy
Practical steps to redefine success and enjoy the journey itself

Memorable Quotes:

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” - Alfred D. Souza
“If we tie our happiness to perfect conditions, it will always feel temporary, conditional, and out of our control.”
“Joy isn’t a replacement for struggle, but a companion to it.”
“No matter what storm you’re going through, joy hasn’t disappeared—it’s just behind the clouds.”
“You don’t have to wait for life to be perfect before you allow yourself to fully embrace joy.”
“Success isn’t about reaching the summit—it’s about who you are becoming along the way.”
“Your focus shapes your direction. Your direction fuels your momentum. And that momentum is what moves you forward.”

This episode inspires listeners to shift their focus from chasing happiness to embracing joy, redefining success, and learning to fully experience the journey, not just the destination.

Your WORDS MATTER, because YOU MATTER.

❤️❤️❤️

Text Deanna! She'd love to hear from you!

Support the show

WORDS MATTER with Deanna Ley - "I Have Not Failed. I've Just Found 10,000 Ways That Won't Work."

Transcript

Hello friends, and welcome back to another episode of WORDS MATTER. I am so glad you're here for part three of our four-part series on FOCUS. Over the last two episodes, we’ve talked about detaching from the outcome and attaching to progress, as well as shifting from a lack mentality to an abundance one. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the concept of failure—learning to see it not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for learning, growth, and yes, even fun.
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