Many of the accomplishments that I can list in my life have come after making several attempts that at first produced only undesirable outcomes. I have become so accustomed to frustrations and setbacks that I have simply accepted these occurrences as part of the process of achievement.

After years of counselling people who were trying to achieve their financial goals, I realised that disappointment with the slow pace of progress is one of the reasons why many give up on their dreams. They think that if the dream was meant to be, it should happen quickly and effortlessly.

Despite knowing that success often comes after repeated failures, I sometimes get irritated when I don’t immediately see positive results from my efforts. Recently, after feeling exasperated with a project that was taking longer than expected, I resigned myself to learning through trial and error.

The theory of trial and error

This week, I wanted to discuss the importance of giving yourself space to try and fail as you traverse the pathway to your goals, so I decided to research the concept of trial and error. It was then that I discovered that there is actually an entire learning theory dedicated to this principle.

The concept was observed by psychologist E L Thorndike in his research on animal intelligence in the late 1800’s. Putting a hungry cat in a box and a tasty fish outside, Thorndike experimented to see if the animal could learn how to pull a lever, open a door in the box and get to the food.

After making random attempts to go outside, the cat finally hit the lever by accident and was rewarded with a little food. Each time the cat was returned to the box, it took a shorter time to learn the door-opening trick. Continuous learning was required for the cat to retain the knowledge.

How can you succeed by failing?

The concept of learning through trial and error will only work if you are sufficiently motivated to keep going until you obtain your prize. Like the hungry cat, you have to be determined to get what you want, be physically up to the challenge and prepared to put up with repeated disappointments.

The goal that you are working towards must also be important enough to warrant your continued attempts. If your dream is weak or vague, then you will be more likely to give up when the going gets tough. Make a strong emotional connection with your goal to keep it relevant to your life.

Just as the cat had to continue practising to cement the learning, you need to maintain your focus to be successful. Keep researching, learning, observing, performing and networking to improve your knowledge and experience in the area of endeavour in which you are trying to succeed.

Become child-like to learn

Picture a toddler who wants to do something that she has not yet been taught, for example open a DVD case. The child will make various failed attempts with her fingers and teeth, until she finally finds the groove that allows her to unlock it. Very soon, she knows how to open the case easily.

While children often express their frustrations when they are not able to immediately accomplish their objectives, they very rarely give up trying to be successful. Babies may fall many times in the process of learning to walk, but they just keep plodding on until their legs can support their bodies.

We need to recognise that giving up after a few futile attempts is a negative learned behaviour that does not support goal achievement. Accepting defeat is not how we were designed to function, but as children we often get socialised into this practice by misguided parents, teachers and peers.

Embrace your errors

Trial and error will only work if you are mentally prepared to deal with a negative result and willing to continue searching until you find the right solution. Instead of resisting failure, embrace it. Use failure as your guidepost to steer you in the right direction, and you will learn its valuable lesson.

Let’s say that you are looking for a way to make extra money to meet your bills or get out of debt. You tried several options such as network marketing, selling phone cards and freelancing online, but none of them were able to generate sustainable income. You are understandably frustrated.

Your bills are mounting and there is no salary increase on the horizon, so what do you do? You keep trying. Just like the cat in the experiment, you were simply pushing the wrong levers; the right income opportunity is out there for you, but you have to become more strategic in your approach.

If the cat had human intelligence, perhaps it would have studied the box to determine the correct way to open the door. Continue to research income-generating options until you find something that makes the best use of your talents and the opportunities that are right at your doorstep.

Copyright © 2015 Cherryl Hanson Simpson. No reproduction without written consent.

Originally published in The Daily Observer, November 19, 2015.

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Cherryl is a money coach and business mentor, and founder of Financially S.M.A.R.T. Services. See more of her work at www.entrepreneursinjamaica.com and www.financiallysmart.org. Contact Cherryl