Axiom 62: Failure is the Easiest Option

"A man may fall many times, but he won't be a failure until he says that someone pushed him." -Elmer G. Letterman

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely." -Henry Ford

There are two types of failure. The first type is failure from giving up. If you've ever made a new year's resolution chances are that you failed by giving up. It is human nature to be somewhat passive and lazy at times. It is always easier to give up and continue the status quo than to push yourself outside of your comfort zone for too long.

The second type of failure is failure from poor execution. If you screwed something up and failed it is often easier to walk away than to make yourself try again. Whether it is from pride, laziness, or lack of conviction, people often determine the potential goal is not worth trying anymore.

There are a few important things to remember in regards to failure:

• Failure is destined to happen. To become successful you will have to endure failures, guaranteed. Learn to deal with failure.
• Don't take failure personally. Don't let failure make you emotionally sad. Separate failure and look at it logically.
• Set realistic goals. Don't set yourself up to fail. If you know that a goal is impossible don't set it.
• Failure is the easiest option. Remember that failure is easier than success. That is why success is so much sweeter.
• Fail Harder. If you are going to fail at least fail trying your best. You are more likely to learn more if you fail with more conviction.
• Every failure is a success. You will learn from every failure if you look deep enough. View each failure as a successful learning opportunity.
• Fail Often. It usually takes multiple failures before you succeed. Don't give up after your first, second, or third failed attempt. 

Failure doesn't have to be a negative thing. Teflon®, plastic, the pacemaker, the microwave, X-rays, anesthesia, stainless steel, and penicillin are just a few of the things created by mistake. They were created from the failures of other projects. Learn to embrace failure. 

Axiom 61: Death of a Salesman

"If you're a car salesman, and someone says 'This is a terrible car, I'm not buying it,' it doesn't mean they hate you. They just don't like your product. I think that's a mistake a lot of people in show business make.. they're so tied to their act they take everything personally." 

-Jay Leno 

"I think it's very important that whatever you're trying to make or sell, or teach has to be basically good. A bad product and you know what? You won't be here in ten years." 

-Martha Stewart

I was at home one day and heard a knock at the door. It was a young man in his 20s trying to sell me magazines. He started telling me his story about how he was a single parent that had recently relocated to the area. He was personable and made me laugh, he made me empathize with his situation, but there was one thing he didn't do - Offer me a product that I wanted to buy.

I told him "no" and he responded with something that stuck in my mind.

"It's not about books, bibles, or magazines. It's about giving someone like me a chance, " he said.

I still didn't buy. I felt like crap the whole day. I felt bad that someone was out there working so hard and it must be a very hard way of life. I felt cold-hearted.

The more I thought about it I wished I had given him some advice. I wanted to tell him that unfortunately the world is about books, bibles, and magazines. I wanted to tell him that the sooner he changed careers and started selling something the free-market wanted the sooner he could be successful in life.

You cannot fight the free-market. It will crush you if you try. Success means that you must offer something of value that people want. The better the value you are offering, the easier the sale.

That young man will not be selling door-to-door forever. It may take time but eventually the free-market will drive him into another career. Hopefully he can then go into a career that he can more easily reap the fruits of his labor by selling a product that the market wants.

Fort Worth Food Insider (Tex-Mex) - Dos Molina's

I've traveled around this great county and eaten at many of the famous local restaurants. Now I think its time that I should turn my attention back to my hometown - Fort Worth, Texas. I'm writing a new series of blog posts called the, "Fort Worth Food Insider." Whether you're a tourist visiting the area, or a longtime local looking for the best food Fort Worth has to offer, you've come to the right place. I'm going to share with you my local Fort Worth favorites that aren't getting the attention that they deserve.

Today I am going to cover Fort Worth's Best Tex-Mex

If you were a tourist visiting Fort Worth and you asked a local, "Hey, where's the best Tex-Mex in town?" chances they would point you to Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant (2201 North Commerce Street, Fort Worth, TX 76164). Joe T's has been great place to drink margaritas and eat enchiladas since it opened in 1935. It is always packed and their patio is beautiful.

However, if you were a tourist and asked me, "Shawn, where's the best Tex-Mex in town?" I would answer without hesitation Dos Molina's (404 NW 25th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76106).

Dos Molina's sits in the shadows of the Fort Worth Stockyards just a few blocks away from Joe T's. However, Dos Molina's is Fort Worth's best kept Tex-Mex secret. It really is hidden unless you know it is there.

This is a breakfast and lunch spot only. They close early and the neighborhood is very sketchy even though it borders the tourist spots in town. Lunchtime is always packed with a good mix of local blue and white collar people.

The prices are amazingly cheap. Here's what their $5.95 taco dinner lunch looks like:

The chips and salsa they serve are the best in Fort Worth. The salsa is amazing. The closest thing I have had that rivals their salsa is Joe T's. 

However, the one "must" eat item for any of you that go here are the bean and cheese nachos. Get them as an appetizer and split them among friends. They are greasy, tasty, and one of my favorite things in Fort Worth to eat.

If you have a chance to swing by here for lunch you won't regret it.