Frustration is a Signal, Not a Stop Sign

Success Requires Disappointment and Failure

Many people say that your goals should be so audacious they scare you. That sounds exciting, right? You’re on a mission, you’re on a path. But here’s the hard part: If you truly care about that goal, disappointment is inevitable.

Let’s take a common goal — doubling your income. That’s a great target. You’d love to hit it. But if you’re already making enough to be comfortable, will that motivation really drive you? I’d argue that if doubling your income is just a “nice to have” rather than something deeply important to you, you’ll never actually get there.

That’s where failure comes in. Disappointment isn’t just an obstacle; it’s a signal. It shows you what truly matters to you.

A Personal Example: Running Into Frustration

Right now, I’m training for a half marathon. I am not a natural runner — I sit at a desk all day and have toddlers at home, so training is tough. But I set a goal:

• Micro Goal: Run a 10K in under an hour

• Ultimate Goal: Finish a half marathon in under two hours

For context, a year ago, I ran a 10K, and it took me over two hours. I was in bad shape, heck I almost fainted 200 yards from the finish line. I had to sit down before crossing it... It was frustrating, but that frustration revealed something important: I cared about my health.